096.

Monte Aventino, e Vestigi del Ponte Sublicio

Continuing downstream from Plate 95, this is an almost exact extension of that print along the east bank of the Tiber, below the Aventine hill. With the exception of the church of S. Anna de' Calzettari (5) (church of the hosiers), all of the buildings along the river on that side were demolished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and replaced by the wide Lungotevere Aventino. This includes the disappearance of the old salara (4) (salt warehouse) with an arch over Strada della Salara (NN 1080). Directly above the salara is one of the defensive towers of the 12th century Savelli stronghold atop the Aventine hill. Four more towers of the perimeter wall, which is all that survives of this complex, can be seen to the left. On top of the hill adjoining the Savelli stronghold (now a park) is the 5th century church of S. Sabina (3) Plate 129, one of the few churches which has maintained its early Christian interior almost intact. Pope Honorius III Savelli (1216-1227) gave this church to St. Dominic and approved the order of Dominicans which still inhabits the monastery attached to the church. Further to the right is the church and monastery of S. Alessio (2), followed by the Villa of the Knights of Malta (1). Their full title contains the history of this millennial order as its headquarters moved from place to place: the Sovereign Military order of the Knights Hospitaler of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. They still constitute a sovereign state, and their present headquarters on Via Condotti as well as this villa are extraterritorial (i.e.: not on Italian soil). Both Vasi and Nolli show the steeply climbing path (no longer accessible) leading up from the river road to the corner of the hill on which this villa is located, and leading to the church of S. Maria del Priorato, Plate 98. The right foreground of the print depicts a quiet corner of Trastevere which still remains so today, with the small church of S. Maria in Capella (6). The remains of the archaic Ponte Sublicio (8) appear in the river to the right of the church tower.