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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 the Italian visitors of my web site

Anticaglie presso il Ponte Palatino (Book 5) (Map C3) (Day 5) (View C9) (Rione Ripa)

In this page:
The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
Today's view
Temple of Portunus (S. Maria Egiziaca)
Casa di Pilato

The Plate (No. 94)

Anticaglie presso il Ponte Palatino

Anticaglie (in today's Italian Antichità) means antiquities and this is one of the few plates with an explicit ancient Rome subject. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Roman Temple, then called S. Stefano delle Carrozze and today (in 1754) known as S. Maria del Sole; 2) Palazzo di Pilato; 3) S. Maria Egiziaca (Temple of Portunus).

Small ViewSmall View

The area is also shown in the plate of S. Maria in Cosmedin and in a View from the River.

Today

The view today

The two Roman Temples are now free from the additions which for many centuries made  them small and uninteresting churches. Vasi's perspective as in many other cases expanded quite a lot the space between buildings.

Temple of Portunus

S. Maria Egiziaca

This is one of the oldest temples in Rome (2nd century BC) and is called also Temple of Fortuna Virilis (a name which is much more appealing!). In the Middle Ages it became a church (S. Maria Egiziaca).
The temple of Vesta and the drinking trough are shown in the plate of S. Maria in Cosmedin.

Casa di Pilato

Palazzo di Pilato

This interesting building also called casa di Cola di Rienzo is actually a medieval house of the Crescenzi family, most likely a tower commanding the river passage, built using some fragments of Roman ruins. The side shown by Vasi has some very interesting medieval capitals (see also my background). Learn more about the inscription above the entrance.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:


Chiesa di s. Maria Egiziaca
Per la rozza struttura, che si vede nel di fuori di questo antico edifizio, si crede essere un tempio de' primi tempi di Roma dedicato alla Misericordia, invece del famoso Asilo, o come altri vogliono, alla fortuna virile, di cui si legge, che bruciando con tutto quello, che vi era dentro, solamente la statua di legno indorata postavi da Servio Tullio fu trovata illesa. L'anno 872. nel Pontificato di Giovanni VIII. fu dedicato alla ss. Vergine, e poi nel 1560. venendo a Roma Sapher Abagaro Ambasciatore del Re di Armenia in tempo di Pio IV. li fu data una chiesa per la sua nazione: ma essendo poi distrutta per dare luogo al nuovo Ghetto degli Ebrei, s. Pio V. li concedè questa, e però vi fu eretto l'ospizio per li pellegrini di quella nazione, e nella chiesa vi fu formato il modello del s. Sepolcro del nostro Salvatore Gesù Cristo. A destra si vede il
Palazzo di Pilato
Molto rozza, e curiosa è la struttura di quella poca fabbrica, che dal volgo viene chiamata palazzo di Pilato, dicendo aver quivi abitato quell'ingiusto Presidente, quando fu chiamato a Roma da Claudio Imperatore, per aver condannato a morte Gesù Cristo; ma perchè non vi è alcun documento d'un tal fatto, resterà nella sua incertezza.

Next plate in Book 5: Ponte Rotto
Next step in Day 5 itinerary: Ponte Rotto
Next step in your tour of Rione Ripa: Ponte Rotto