Santa Maria Maggiore
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The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Major papal basilica as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.
Façade of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore facing the Piazza
The Blessed Virgin Mary overlooking Pope Liberius as the Pontiff scrapes the foundation of the basilica into the snow. By Italian artist Masolino da Panicale. circa 15th-century. Museo di Capodimonte.
The Piazza and Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, by Giovanni Paolo Panini
Piazza dell'Esquilino with the apse area of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, and serves as the seat of the bishop of Rome, the pope. The archbasilica lies outside of Vatican City proper, which is located approximately four kilometres northwest. Nevertheless, as properties of the Holy See, the archbasilica and its adjoining edifices enjoy an extraterritorial status from Italy, pursuant to the terms of the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Dedicated to the Christ, in honor of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the place name, Laterano (Lateran) comes from an ancient Roman family (gens), whose palace (domus) grounds occupied the site; the adjacent Lateran Palace was the primary residence of the pope until the Middle Ages.
Façade of the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior at the Lateran
Next to the formal entrance is the archbasilica's declaration to be the head, or Mother Church, of the entire world. Note the laurel wreath and the Papal tiara.
The papal cathedra, the presence of which renders the archbasilica the cathedral of Rome, is located in its apse. The decorations are in cosmatesque style.
The high altar and the 14th-century Gothic ciborium. The relic of the original wooden altar used by Saint Peter comprises the high altar. Above the ciborium are statues of Sts. Peter and Paul.