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Porta Pertusa |
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Cupola Vaticana |
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Via Aurelia nova, e Via Cornelia, la quale era vicina alla Via Trionfale |
The Medici coat of arms over Porta Pertusa reveals that it was built by Pius IV (1559-65). The same Pope built this whole section of the bastioned walls around the Vatican hill which replaced the mid-15th century walls built by Nicholas V (1447-55). The two streets in the print which Vasi refers to as Via Aurelia nova and Via Cornelia, pass along its flank. The tall round tower visible behind the wall is the high point of the latter. The old Porta Pertusa, in Nicholas V's wall, was located further north as revealed by the 1551 Bufalini map. Nolli shows both walls and the gate clearly. The gate was sealed in the 17th century, but Nolli shows it as being open again. So does the 1842 Census map of the city. One or both of these maps may have misled the French in believing that the gate was open, resulting in their failed attempt to penetrate the city at this point in1849. Instead they found the gate sealed as we see it today. Vasi shows the dome of St. Peter's (1) rising above the wall, though it is not actually visible from this viewpoint as the contemporary photograph makes clear.
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