The Lateran is an area of Rome that was the offical seat of the Popes in the times of Constantine I., before they moved to the Vatican. The Lateran consists of the archbasilica San Giovanni e Laterano, the enclosed magisterium, the remaining parts of the papal palace, the papal chapel Santa Sanctorum, the leonic tirclinium, the lateran palace and an obelisc.

History:

The Lateran was first mentioned when emperors still governed Rome and was named after the family that originally owned the premises, the Laterani. About 60 a.C. all properties were confiscated by Emperor Nero who suspected the family behind a conspiracy. Marcus Aurelius built a palace in 161 a.C. but it would be another 100 years until the property was given back to the Lateranis.

In the early years of the 4th century the aurealic city walls ran past the premises and housed the elite troops of Emperor Maxentius. After his defeat by Constantine I. in 312 a.C. the barracks were torn to the ground and the new emperor built a basilica in its stead for the followers of the Catholic Church in Rome. 

It's not completely sure since when the basilica and the palace were used as residence for the roman bishops. Since the basilica of the Lateran was the only one of the three constantine mainline churches that was situated inside the city walls it served as cathedrale, the other two churches (Saint Paul before the walls and St. Peter's Basilica) were built over tombs of apostles. Until today the basilica bears the honorary title "Omnium urbis et orbis exxlesiarum mater et caput" which means "Mother and Head of all Churches of Rome and the World". She was sainted for the Saviour (latin: "salvator" first and later for the patronage of Saint John the Bapist as well (ital. "giovanni").

In the 5th century the complex was sacked by Teutons several times, in 896 a.C. an earthquake caused severe damage, but despite all this the building were always tended to and renovated and lasted many decades. A black spot on the basilicas history marks the year 897 a.C.: Pope Stephan VI. condemned his predecessor, mutulated his corpse and threw him into the Tiber. 

Until the year 1309 the papal palace stood next to the church, the only visible remainings are the chapel Sancta Sanctorum and the holy steps, also named "Scala Santa". Soon a fight began between the two rivaling churches in the Lateran and the Vatican: Both churches claimed to possess the same relics and wanted to be preferred before the other. Since the Vatican didn't lack visitors thanks to St. Peter's tomb, the Lateran still remained the seat of the roman bishops, also because their coronation and benediction took place there. With the universalitation of the papacy however the Vatican moved into the spotlight and the everlasting fight seemed to be won for the latter. 

In 1377 the Popes returned to Rome from their exile in Avignon. It was at that time that the decision to choose the Vatican as seat of the papacy was made final, which is more likely to come from St. Peter's tomb as base of their power than the bad shape of the Lateran. 

After that the former papal palace sank into silence. In 1586 some buildings were resurrected as papal summerresidence, but still remained run-down. In 1646 Francesco Borromini stabilized the complex for the Holy Year 1650 and converted the buildings to Baroque style. The interiors got redecorated, the formerly 14 ambulatories of the central aisle were reduced to 5 per side and put up giant statues of the 12 apostles in the walled up alcoves, which were partly made in the workshop of Bernini. In 1736 the Latern got renovated again by Alessandro Galilei. He renewed the main front and added the colossal statues portraying Jesus, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and other important Doctors of the Church, some measuring up to 7 metres. The papal coronation was held in the Lateran Basilica till the 19. century.

In 1929 the Lateran treaty secured the statehood of the Vatican as well as its affiliation of the Lateran and Castel Gandolfo, the new summerresidence of the Pope. 

On July 28th, 1993 an explosion caused by an autobomb damaged the side-entrance and parts of the front of the palace. Although the damage seemed severe, reparation went on quickly and soon the palace was back to its old beauty. The explosion was most likely meant as a threat to the Pope, who was preaching again the mafia in Sicily just a few days prior. Since that attack it is not allowed to park any vehicles on the piazza before the palace of the basilica.