Chiesa di S. Maria della Traspontina (Book 7) (View C3) (Map C2) (Day 8) (Rione Borgo) In this page:
Traspontina means simply beyond the bridge (ponte) in this case the
bridge of the Angels. The pilgrims were now very
close to their final destination: St Peter's. Vasi shows people
going only in that direction. Many shops (as today) relied on the foreigners
for their business. 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) Entrance to the Oratory;
2) Palazzo Giraud; 3) Street leading to
Basilica Vaticana.
The small map shows also 4) Oratorio di S. Maria Annunziata.
Today the approach to St Peter's from the bridge of the Angels is
quite different. A "grand" entrance to St Peter's was completed in the 1950s
at the expense of Spina (thorn) di Borgo (the buildings between Borgo Nuovo
and Borgo Vecchio) and Piazza Rusticucci. Many palaces were pulled
down (Palazzo Accoramboni, Palazzo dei Convertendi, Palazzetto di Giacomo
Bresciano) others were erected in a sort of Renaissance style. Try to approach Piazza S. Pietro through Borgo
S. Spirito. The view is taken from St Peter's dome. S. Maria in Traspontina is with Palazzo
Giraud (now Torlonia) one of the few buildings which have not been
affected by the restructuring of the area. It was rebuilt in the late XVIth
century on a previous very old church and it was the main church of Borgo. Next to it there is a small oratory (Oratorio per la Dottrina Cristian)
where children received their religious education. It was designed in 1714 by Nicola Michetti.
The plate shows also one of several small fountains built by Paulus V. Two of them have been reconstructed in one of the palaces along Via della Conciliazione. A third one (right) is now near S. Alessio. They show the eagles and dragons of the Borghese family. Oratorio di S. Maria Annunziata The little oratory of S. Maria Annunziata was built in 1746 by Pietro Passalacqua. It
shows the influence of Borromini in the use of convex and concave lines. The building
was located in Borgo S. Spirito (n. 16 in the map - marked with a green dot) opposite the
hospital. Because of the restructuring of the area the oratory was pulled down and
rebuilt in a new site opposite the large bridge (ponte Vittorio) which now
links the Vatican with the center of Rome.
Next plate in Book 7: S. Martino ai Monti Next step in Day 8 itinerary: S. Giacomo a Scossacavalli Go to or to Book 7 or to my Home Page on Baroque Rome or to my Home Page on Rome in the footsteps of an XVIIIth century traveller. |