San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica di San Giovanni) Rome

Thus far the only thing I can say for sure about this city is that it's just as loud at 3:30am as it is at 3:30pm. And if you're wondering why I'm sitting in an internet cafe writing instead of sightseeing here is your answer.

1.) Today is apparently Republic day. On Republic day, Italy has a big military parade in the middle of Rome. …

1. Eaten crema all' aceto balsamico gelato (cream with balsamic vinegar mixed in), which was surprising and incredibly delicious.
   
2. Wandered around Rome day and night.
   
3. Visited the Castelli Romani, where many Roman emperors had their palaces.
   
4. Geeked out in the Castelli Romani, because that's where …

Hello Everyone!

So, I am taking a theology class on pilgrimage and part of it is 'on-site' so we get to walk around Rome for 2.5 hours on Monday mornings-not a bad way to start the week. This week we got to go to 4 different churches in Rome.

The first church we went to was Santa Maira Maggiore. Like all other churches in this …

This morning begun very much as did yesterday: everyone waking up early for a hearty breakfast, some small talk and a buzz in the air about today's activities. During breakfast I was asked by Father Stephen if I would be interested in reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians 2:17 - 22 at mass this morning.

And coming, he …

Sometimes events happen in a way that you meet people. For the first hour of the flight journey we didn't talk to the guy sitting next to us as Lucky and I were both busy organising things for Europe. However, the lady sitting in front of us was being a brat and that caused us to talk. We found out that he was from Melbourne and his name was Nick. …

Our train to Rome was an early one at 9am from Florence, so we skipped breakfast but the hotel were nice enough to give us some biscotti for the road. Once we reached the station we decided to get breakfast. It was when I learned how to order breakfast in the cafes. I wasn't sure at first but after watching a few people, I figured out how it works …

After more than a year and a half of saving and planning and almost twenty-four hours of traveling, we flew into Rome on Sunday, October 21st. Well...technically we flew into Fiumicino and took a short train ride into Rome. But the point is that we arrived! Siamo arrivati!

The Leonardo Express dumped us out into the sprawling Roma Termini …

It was a pretty rushing day in Rome because I had gotten 3 tickets for the Corpus Domini Procession that evening and I had to collect the tickets near the Trevi Fountain before heading to San Giovanni in Laterano.

We arrived in Rome at about 2pm because our train was delayed. Getting the Roma Pass was a breeze though so we got them and …

Ciao Tutti!

Today I had been planning to take a trip to the archaeological site of Ostia Antica, but, once again, the public transportation of Rome felt otherwise. I arrived at the train station only to find it closed down for the day due to a strike. So plans had to be changed. Since I had never taken the time to visit San Giovanni in …

... off all the "must sees" in the guide books, I have decided this time to relax and observe more. On my way to San Giovanni in Laterano at 9 a.m., a grandpa and about 3 year old grandson walked out of the neighborhood shop, they stopped in front of me. ...

... themed route, starting with Santa Maria Maggiore; famous for its fifth century mosaics. Then to the Basillica San Giovanni in Laterano; The oldest church in Rome. San Pietro in Vincoli; where Michelangelo's Moses sculpture is. Then lastly, San Maria in ...

... minds. This has to be one of my favorite places in Rome.  Our last stop of the day was San Giovanni in Laterano. This is a beautiful church with a cloister full of mosaic inlaid Columns unlike anything that you will see anywhere else in ...

... is capable of going down the old narrow streets of Rome, by the Colosseum and the Roman Forum to our destination of Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano and the famous Basilica. Jim LOVES going into churches - actually it was our first of the day - so he ...

... of the extra-territorial churches in Rome under the control of Vatican City, which I can see from my hostel-room window; San Giovanni in Laterano, former center of the Church before St. Peter's was built; and St. Clement's Church, a 14th century church ...

... our way to the bus stop (had to ask a police officer where it was), waited for 45 minutes, and made it back to San Giovanni in Laterano.  Before walking back to the metro stop, we ducked in to a gelateria for our first taste of the infamous gelato. ...

... . We got some great footage.Then for our last dinner in Roma we went to  Isidoro, in the ancient Rome area just off Via Di San Giovanni In Laterano in the San Clemente Piazza. We were told they had the best pasta in Rome and again we were amazed !! ...

... .  I invite you to visit again with me, these places of historical and religious significance. Our first stop is San Giovanni in Laterano, a short way to the west of Colosseum.  This basilica, constructed by Constantine, was the first built in ...

... he takes us sightseeing instead of being in class...he calls it sightseeing Fridays.  This past Friday we went to San Giovanni in Laterano (St John Lateran).  This is the oldest, and ranks first among the four great "patriarchal" basilicas ...

... Building  on the right.  The green doors on the façade are replicas because the original doors now adorn the San Giovanni in Laterano basilica mentioned in my Hidden Treasures posting.   Finally, at the end of via Sacra, stands the ...