058.

Chiesa di SS. Nereo ed Achilleo

Dwarfed by the imposing ruins of the early 3rd century Baths of Caracalla (1) which rise on the hill above it, is the early Christian church dedicated to the Saints Nereo and Achilleo (3). It was entirely rebuilt in 814 under Pope Leo III (795-816) and received major restorations in the 16th century. Apart from a small formal garden alongside its right flank, the church had no other property because the Nolli map shows that it was surrounded by farms belonging to the Jesuits on the left (4) and the Caradini family on the right. On the hill in the right background is the 4th century church and monastery of S. Balbina (2) which acquired its fortress-like appearance in the medieval period. Occupying the foreground of the print is the large complex of S. Sisto Vecchio ("old" to distinguish it from the newer SS Domenico e Sisto, Plate 149) which includes the 4th century church of S. Sisto Papa (5) and the chapel of S. Domenico (not visible in the print; NN 950). A long series of restorations of S. Sisto terminated in the early 18th century with the facade by Raguzzini, seen in shadow at the right edge of the print. Vasi names the street traversing the print horizontally Via Nuova (6) (new street), while Nolli refers to is as the Strada di S. Sisto Vecchio (NN 951). This suggests that the street was renewed at some point between 1748 and 1763.