Rome: Basilica of St John Lateran & Holy Steps 1-Hour Tour

Pilgrims to Rome are drawn to a myriad of things, but none quite so significant as the Holy Steps and the Major Papal Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran, known in Italian as San Giovanni. Join us for a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Rome, the Holy of Holies and the Scala Sancta, where your devout Catholic scholar and tour guide will bring to life the true history of the Catholic Church.

The original steps from the Praetorium of the Roman Province of Judea, which Jesus ascended to be tried and eventually condemned by Pontius Pilate, were brought to Rome by St Helena in the 4th Century along with many other relics from Christ’s Passion. 

Because Christ climbed these steps in condemnation, Catholic tradition holds that pilgrims climb them on their knees in meditation to be granted a Plenary Indulgence (in accord with the normal conditions). 

Unfortunately this practice takes around 45 minutes and is therefore not part of our tour, but pilgrims can arrange to partake in the tradition in their own time free of charge.

We will however visit the Holy Steps and begin our tour at the eponymous Church of the Scala Sancta, which is also home to the Sanctorium Sancta—known in English as the Holy of Holies—the tiny chapel into which only His Holiness the Pope was previously allowed to enter. 

There we’ll climb the ordinary stairs and peek into the chapel, where we can catch a glimpse of the miraculous acheiropoieta of Christ, said to have been begun by St Luke the Evangelist and finished by angels. The same chapel is also home to wood from the table of the Last Supper.

We continue our tour with a short trip across the road to the highest ranking church in Christendom, the Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran, where we’ll have the opportunity to venerate the skulls of Saints Peter and Paul, the Pillars of the Church.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, San Giovanni is an awesome spectacle of a basilica and an architectural wonder, with its own unique history, works of priceless art and mosaics filled with symbolism. Closely caught up with the legalisation of Christianity within the Roman Empire, this Cathedral has a fascinating history with lots of ups and downs.

It is also the site of one of the four Holy Doors that will open in 2025 for pilgrims to Rome.

Our Basilica of St John Lateran & Holy Steps Rome Pilgrim Tour concludes admiring the facade of the building, where you’ll be just a few moments from public transport options, taxis and the ancient Aurelian city walls that encircle the Centro Storico, beyond which lies suburban Rome.