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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.
Page revised in December 2010.

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
Tempio di Portuno (S. Maria Egiziaca)
Casa di Pilato

The Plate (No. 94)

Anticaglie presso il Ponte Palatino

This etching by Giuseppe Vasi shows a very picturesque corner of XVIIIth century Rome with two small ancient temples which were turned into churches, but retained most of their original design; the author showed them also in the plates covering S. Maria in Cosmedin and the beach near that church. The temples (seen from a different angle) appeared also in a contemporary etching by Giovan Battista Piranesi - external link.
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, which was turned into the church of S. Stefano delle Carrozze and today (in 1754) is known as S. Maria del Sole; 2) Palazzo di Pilato; 3) S. Maria Egiziaca (Temple of Portunus). 1) is shown in another page.

Small ViewSmall map

Today

The view today
The view in April 2009

The two Roman temples have been freed from the additions which turned them into churches and the level of the ground has been lowered to unearth their podiums; the XVIIIth century watering trough shown in the plate has been relocated in a garden along the river.

Tempio di Portuno

S. Maria Egiziaca
Tempio di Portuno

The temple was dedicated to Portunus, the Roman god of doors and harbours, because the first river harbour of ancient Rome was located in this area which was known as Velabro.
The temple was built with blocks of tufo, while the columns were made of travertine (see a page on the Stones of Rome); the columns were covered with plaster in order to imitate marble; it is a Ist century BC building, but beneath it archaeologists have found evidence of a much older temple.
In 872 it was turned into a church dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt, a Vth century saint who lived as a hermit in the desert. In the XVIth century Pope Pius V assigned it to the Armenians who incorporated it into a hostel for pilgrims from their country.

Casa di Pilato

Palazzo di Pilato
Side (left) and front (right) views

This interesting building is a medieval house of the Crescenzi family, most likely a tower commanding the river passage; it was decorated with Late Roman capitals and lintels; the reference to Pontius Pilate could be due to the use of the house during medieval re-enactments of the Passion of Jesus; it was also known as Casa di Cola di Rienzo.
Learn more about the inscription above the entrance.

Palazzo di Pilato
Various details of the decoration

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