Rome Lateran Palace Guided Tour

The Lateran Palace is located in the centre of Rome and was the official residence of the popes until the 14th century. If you buy tickets, you can take a tour with an expert guide for about an hour. The price also includes a pair of headphones that will allow you to listen to his explanations in great detail.

The Lateran Palace was the residence of the Bishop of Rome. It has a large area that houses the papal flat with its private chapel, ten rooms and a monumental staircase. The Basilica of St John Lateran completes the structure. The latter is one of the most important churches in the Eternal City. It has five naves and is decorated with works by artists of the stature of Borromini and Giotto.

The history of the Lateran Palace is linked to the battle of Ponte Milvio, which pitted the armies of Constantine and Maxentius against each other. After Constantine's victory, the land was donated to Pope Miltiades. The structure was embellished both in the Middle Ages and in later centuries. Inside you will find tapestries, paintings, frescoed ceilings and hundreds of other works.

In this same structure, on 11 February 1929, the Lateran Pacts were signed. These agreements meant the recognition of the Kingdom of Italy by the Holy See. Until then, the Vatican had never recognised the legitimacy of the Italian state.