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Porta Angelica |
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1. |
Casino di Belvedere sul Colle Vaticano |
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2. |
Palazzo Vaticano |
Porta Angelica was a gate in the wall that Pius IV (1559-65) built to expand the area of Borgo. This wall which defended the Belevedere building (1) connected the bastion of Paul III to Castel S. Angelo, and was pierced by two gates; this one and Porta Castello, Plate 20. Both gates and most of the wall were demolished in the late 19th century to make way for the development of the new Prati quarter, the first to be built outside the walls. The surviving portion of Pius IV's wall is the part to the right of the gate in the print. To this were attached the surviving elements of the gate: the Medici arms, the two angel reliefs and the inscription formerly at the top of the gate, which also explains its name:
ANGELIS•SVIS•MANDAVIT•DE•TE•VT•CVSTODIANT•TE•IN•OMNIBVS•VIIS•TVIS
(To you He sent his angels to guide you in all your ways)
A dramatic sunset frames the distant Vatican Belvedere (1), with the nicchione (large niche) just visible. The long eastern arm of the Vatican Cortile (2), which links to the Papal palace, serves as a backdrop to the gate itself.
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