2025 Private Jubilee Tour

Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

Stepping inside the portico of this mammoth church, you'll be awestruck by its sheer scale and history. The colossal central doors, cast in bronze, once adorned the entrance of the Curia Iulia, the ancient senate house in the Roman Forum. You'll also have the opportunity to see the Holy Doors - only open in the event of a Jubilee or Holy Year, every 25 years. Your guide will explain the rich theological meaning and historical significance of the Jubilee - an important year of pilgrimage for Catholics worldwide. Inside the Basilica, you'll be greeted by Borromini's soaring Baroque genius, who redesigned the interior in the 17th Century. Traces of the ancient Basilica remain, however; follow your guide, who will reveal medieval frescos by Giotto and guide you through the complex meaning of the iconography of the apse mosaics. You'll also discover more about the history of the early Church in Rome and learn how Saints Peter and Paul's relics came to rest here.

Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs

Join your guide and explore more of this once-vast and ancient complex. First, you'll visit the Holy Steps (Scala Santa), a set of 28 marble steps brought to Rome by St. Helen, Constanine's mother. According to tradition, these are the steps that Christ climbed up the palace of Pontius Pilate during the Passion. Even today, they are a place of solemn pilgrimage for the devout. At the top lies the Sancta Santorum (Holy of Holies). Long before the Sistine Chapel, this was the pope's private chapel. It once held some of the most precious relics in the Christian world. Even today, it is the home of the mysterious "acheiropoieton," an ancient image of Christ said to have been painted by angels (visitable on a private excursion).

Then, visit the Lateran Baptistry, the legendary site of Constantine's baptism. Its octagonal shape inspired other baptistries around Italy and Europe, including the famous Baptistry of Florence. Why were early baptistries eight-sided buildings? And why were they housed in separate buildings? Your local guide will answer these questions and more. Before leaving the Lateran, take a moment to admire the enormous Lateran Obelisk, the tallest standing obelisk in the world today. Discover how these ancient Egyptian monuments were recycled, first by the Romans and later by the Christian Church.