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Rome: St John Lateran & Holy Steps Catholic Tour

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$61.66 /person
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About the activity

Visit St John Lateran—the Cathedral of Rome and Mother Church of the world—and the Holy Steps traditionally brought by St Helena, with an expert Catholic guide.

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Live guiding
    Chinese, English, French, Spanish
  • Duration
    1 hour
  • Includes
    • Expert Catholic guide
    • All taxes and fees
    • Radio headsets for groups of 7 or more
    • Transport to meeting point
    • Transport from end point
    • Guide tip
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Visit St John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome and Mother Church of the world
  • See the Holy Steps brought to Rome by St Helena according to tradition
  • Glimpse the Sancta Sanctorum and its revered image of Christ
  • Venerate the reliquaries of the heads of Sts Peter and Paul
  • Discover the Last Supper table relic with an expert Catholic guide

Description

Visit two of Rome’s most important Catholic pilgrimage sites on a focused one-hour tour: the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Steps and the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome and Mother and Head of all churches in the city and world.

Begin at the Scala Sancta. According to ancient tradition, these are the steps from Pontius Pilate’s praetorium in Jerusalem, climbed by Jesus before His Passion and brought to Rome by St Helena in the fourth century. Pilgrims may ascend the Holy Steps on their knees in prayer and, under the Church’s usual conditions, seek the associated plenary indulgence. Because this devotion takes about 45 minutes, it is not part of the guided hour; you may undertake it independently after the tour.

Ascend by the parallel staircase to see the Sancta Sanctorum, the former private chapel of the popes, and glimpse the revered image of Christ said to have been begun by St Luke and completed by angels.

Continue across the road to St John Lateran, Rome’s cathedral and the highest-ranking church in the Catholic world. Discover its monumental nave, papal altar, sacred art and long history from the legalisation of Christianity to the present day. Venerate the reliquaries containing the heads of Sts Peter and Paul and see the part of the table of the Last Supper preserved within the basilica.

The basilica also has one of Rome’s four Holy Doors, normally closed outside Jubilee years. The next Jubilee of the Redemption is anticipated in 2033.

Your expert Catholic guide explains the relics, traditions, indulgence and spiritual significance of these living places of worship. Shoulders and knees must be covered. The tour ends at St John Lateran, close to Metro Line A and local transport.

Good to know before you go
  • Free for clerics.
Meeting point

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Adults
    16-99 years
  • Students (with ID)
    16-30 years
  • Children
    0-15 years
October 2026
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