The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran was built in the fourth century in the area then known as the Horti Laterani formerly owned by the family of Laterani confiscated and became part of the imperial properties at the time of Nero.
The main façade was built in 1732 according to the project of Alessandro Galilei.
On top of the façade is a marble group representing Christ with the cross between some holy bishops of the Church of the East and the West. In the gable there is a mosaic of the early Christian basilica representing Jesus .