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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

To my Italian visitors!

Porta Pertusa (Book 1) (Map D2) (Day 8) (View C1) (Rione Borgo)

In this page:
 The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
 Today's view
 The gate and Mura Leonine
 Villa Alberici
 S. Maria del Buon Riposo
 Villa Carpegna
 Casale di S. Pio V
 The Walls between Porta Pertusa and Porta Angelica

The Plate (No. 18)

Porta Pertusa

Porta Pertusa is at the very top of the Vatican Hill controlling Via Aurelia Nuova. The walls were strengthened by the old tower of St. John. Behind them one can see the trees of the Vatican Gardens. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below (left) which shows: 1) Basilica Vaticana; 2) Porta Pertusa and also 5) Villa Alberici. The 1883 map (right) shows 3) Madonna del Riposo (S. Maria del Buon Riposo); 4) Villa Carpegna; 6) Casale di S. Pio V.

Small View

Today

The view today

The gate is no longer in use, the access to the Vatican City being limited to the entrances in St. Peter's square and in Borgo Angelico.

The Gate

The Gate

The tower was restored by John XXIII in 1962 to host important visitors to the Vatican. The tower is part of Mura Leonine, the walls built by Pope Leo IV in 847-52 to protect the Vatican from the threat of Saracen raids. The gate was built during the pontificate of Leo X as the Medici coat of arms confirms.

Villa Alberici

Villa Alberici

In their vineyard near Porta Pertusa, the Alberici built towards the end of the XVIth century a small country lodge, which today serves as gatekeeper's house. One of the old gates retains its original design and the coat of arms of the family. A larger gate leading to a farmhouse was modified with only two large vases giving an idea of its former appearance.

S. Maria del Buon Riposo

S. Maria del Buon Riposo

This little chapel was initially founded by Pope Pius IV, but the fine coat of arms at its entrance belongs to his successor Pope Pius V, who had a simple summer residence not far away. The name "Buon Riposo" means good rest and it is a reference both to: a) the fact that the chapel was along Via Aurelia Nuova and thus offered a site for having a rest; b) and to death. This second meaning is confirmed by the inscription over the slit of the alms-box which says "who lives well, dies well".

Villa Carpegna

Villa Carpegna

Villa Carpegna was both a farm and a summer residence and its main building is an attempt to meet both objectives. It was most likely designed by Giovanni Antonio de' Rossi for Cardinal Gaspare Carpegna towards the end of the XVIIth century.

Villa Carpegna

Casale di S. Pio V

Casale di S. Pio V

Pope Pius V built in the open countryside behind the Vatican walls a residence where he often went to rest. It was most likely designed by the Florentine architect Nanni di Baccio Bigio. At the end of the XIXth century it became (and still is) a house for the blind; this required several modifications to the building; nonetheless the main courtyard retains an elegant design. The well indicates that the casale was built before Acqua Paola brought water to this part of Rome.

The Walls between Porta Pertusa and Porta Angelica

The walls between Porta Pertusa and Porta Angelica

In addition to many coats of arms of Pius IV, the high curtain of Renaissance walls along Viale Vaticano retains traces of restorations made by Pius V, Clemens XII, Benedictus XIV and Gregorius XVI. Pope Paulus III, who first wanted the new rampart defense around the Vatican, is remembered by a gigantic coat of arms at the beginning of Viale Vaticano. In this stretch of the walls Pius XI opened the entrance to the Vatican Museums: his coat of arms is between the 1930s naked statues of Raphael and Michelangelo.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:


Porta Pertusa
Nel più alto del colle Vaticano siede questa porta, la quale serviva solamente per comodo della Corte Pontificia, perchè nel giardino Pontificio corrisponde, e non nella Città. Prese un tal nome per l'antica sua piccolezza, ma Leone X. la ornò con buona architettura; resta però ancora chiusa e senza alcun uso. Appresso a questa si vedono le torri con le
Mura della città Leonina
Dal Pontefice s. Leone IV. fu cinto il Vaticano di mura e di torri, allora quando nell'an. 849. ebbe notizia, che dall'Affrica venivano i Saracini con una poderosa armata in danno di quest'Alma Città; onde sollecito ristaurò le antiche mura, e rinforzò le porte con nuove torri, facendo venire da tutto lo Stato Ecclesiastico operarj: e perchè la basilica Vaticana e li molti ospizj , e spedali restavano esposti agli insulti delle nazioni barbare, perchè fuori della Città, con animo grande cominciò a cingere tutto quel vasto sito di forti mura, sopra le quali egli molto vigilante e sollecito scorreva or per una parte, ed ora per un'altra, acciò l'opera si finisse presto e bene, non distogliendolo nè freddo, nè vento, nè pioggia, ne caldo. Dipoi impiegandovi i Saracini fatti prigioni nella sconfitta data loro nella spiaggia di Ostia, e col lavoro di 4. anni compì la grande opera formando una nuova Città, che dal suo fondatore si disse Leonina. Il medesimo Papa per lo stabilimento di essa ordinò, che tutti i Vescovi , Preti, Diaconi, e Chierici della Chiesa Romana, posciachè si fossero cantate le Litanie, e il Salterio, girassero seco insieme con Inni, e Cantici spi rituali intorno alle nuove mura, cori piedi scalzi, e con cenere in capo. Oltre a ciò ordinò che i Cardinali, e Vescovi facessero l'aqua benedetta, e nel passare aspergessero con essa le dette muraglie. E dopo il medesimo s. Pontefice recitò con lacrime, e sospiri sopra le istesse mura tre orazioni; una sopra la porta verso s. Pellegrino, l'altra sopra la porta Castello, e la terza sopra quella di san Spirito. Dopo di che il Papa con tutto il Clero, e Baronìa di Roma, andò processionalmente alla basilica di s. Pietro, recitando orazioni e laudi, e poi celebrò la Messa solenne per la salute del popolo, e conservazione della Città; il che successe il dì 27. Giugno dell' ottavo anno del suo Pontificato.

Next plate in Book 1: Porta Angelica
Next step in Day 8 itinerary: Giardino Pontificio