There are above 360 churches in Rome, most of which are worthy of notice, either for their antiquity, architecture, or their decorations. A few of the most interesting have been mentioned. The churches constitute one of the principal attractions of modern Rome. One of the moat remarkable, the church of St. John in Lateran; remains to be noticed.
The Basilica Lateranensis, with a palace and other buildings annexed to it, is situated at the south-eastern extremity of Rome, near the walls of Aurelian and Ilonorius, in the older and now desolate part of the city. This group of buildings is called ' in Laterano,' from being built on the estate once belonging to Plautius Lateranus, who was put to death by order of Nero (Tacitue, ' Ann.,' xv. 60). It appears that the later emperors had a palace on the spot, and that Constantino had a church or chapel annexed to the palace. This was the begin ning of the splendid church of St John in Lateran°. Coustantine, or some of his successors, gave up the palace to the bishops of Rome, and the Lateran, till the beginning of the 14th century, was the resi dence of the popes, who enlarged the adjoining church at different times, and undo it their episcopal or patriarchal church, which it continues to be. The pope, in his quality of bishop of Rome, goes to take solemn possession of it after his election, and he officiates there on certain great festivals, for which reason it is styled the head church in the world, 'Ecclesiarum Urbia et Orbis Mater et Caput' Many couuoila have been held in the palace of the Lateran, five of which are styled CEcumenic, or universal. The palace fell to ruin during the long residence of the popes at Avignon in the 14th century, and a fire broke out in 1303, which consumed the greater part of it as well as the church. The church was restored, but the palace was abandoned, and Gregory XI., when he transferred his residence to Rome in 1377, fixed his residence in the Vatican palace, which then came to be considered as the residence of the pontiffs till the 17th century, when they went to reside on the Qui rinal Sixtus V. however in 1536 ordered a new palace to be built next to tho Lateran church, which was not finished until more than a century after his death, and is that which now exists. It is used
at present as an asylum for the poor; and there is also a large hospital on the other aide of the square. The whole vast mass of buildings called by the name of Lateran has bean much changed from what it was when the popes resided here. The iuterior of the Basilica, or church, in its present state, was completed in the 17th century by Clement VIII. and Innocent X., and the splendid front was raised by Clement XIL The church has a nave with double aisles, and is enriched with pillars of rare marble, statues, paintings, gilding; and bronzes. The middle gate, which Is of bronze, and of masterly work manship, was taken from the tEmilian Basilica in the Forum. The statue of Constantine, under the portico, was found in the Thermic of that emperor on the Quirinal Mount The ceiling of the nave, which is carved and gilt, is one of the richest in Europe. The bronze mausoleum of Martin V. is erected in the nave. Among the side chapels that belongiog to the Corsini family is one of the richest in Rome; the pillars, walls, and pavement are of valuable stones, and tho mausoleum of Clement XII. consists of a beautiful urn of por phyry, which lay under the portico of the Pantheon. The altar of the Blessed Sacrament is adorned with four fluted columns of gilt bronze. The cloisters, which date from the 13th century, have some curious irestumenta of the middle ages, In every respect the church of the /atone is one of the oast Interesting in a city abounding with mag natosett churrhes. The obelisk of Syans granite which stands in the square at the back of the church is the hi hest in Rowe, and perhaps is world. Th.littels height of the obelisk, pedestal and ornaments Itseludesl, Is about 150 feet. The Baptistery of Constantine, which adjoins the church. is rich in marble pillars and paintings, and it &wain. the oldest baptismal font in Rowe. The church of St. John In letasaao is collegiate: its chapter of canons and prebendaries, instituted by Boniface VIII. in 1300, has at its bead a Cardinal Arch priest.