Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Vault, Nave and Doors
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Vault, Nave and Doors
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Vault
The central vault features a large coat of arms emblazoned with vibrant heraldic colors. The coat of arms belongs to Pope Pius IV and the rest of the Medici family, who reigned from 1559 to 1565.
The coat of arms is surrounded by scrolling flourishes and other decorative elements, all rendered in gold against a background of ultramarine blue. The overall effect is one of grandeur and opulence, befitting a house of worship that has served as the seat of the papacy for centuries.
Nave
The afternoon sun streams through the high windows of the nave, casting warm pools of light on the polished marble floor. Along the walls, a rhythmic sequence of pilasters separate large panels of richly colored marble. Each panel is framed by an elaborate molding decorated with scrolling foliage and floral motifs. The distant apse is a glowing jewel of gold and colored glass mosaics.
Doors
Towering at the entrance, the bronze doors of Saint John Lateran dwarf approaching figures. Their aged surfaces, etched with the patina of two millennia, whisper of a time before the rise of Christianity. Built around 80 BC, these very doors would have creaked open for Julius Caesar on his way into the Roman Curia. Though older than the Basilica itself, they now stand sentinel here, a testament to enduring craftsmanship. Despite their immense size, a surprising fluidity allows a single custodian to wrestle them open, the aged hinges groaning in protest. A testament to both Roman engineering and the enduring power of history, the doors stand as a silent guardian, bridging the ancient world to the present day.
