100.

Basilica e Monasterio di S. Paolo fuori le mura

This view of the St. Paul's outside the walls emphasizes the defensive character of the monastery buildings attached to the 4th century basilica, Plate 100A. In 846 the basilica was ransacked by Saracen pirates who had sailed up the river. Pope John VIII (872-882) decided to build a defensive perimeter around the church and its monasteries in imitation of the Borgo walls built by Leo IV to protect St. Peter's. This isolated stronghold was named Johannipolis after the Pope that built it. In this print Vasi depicts the transept of the church (1) at right angles to the nave, whose roof is visible. In the foreground is the ancient Via Ostiense (2) heavily traveled as the print shows heading toward Rome and the distant osteria (3) (inn). The early chapel, built over the tomb of St. Paul, faced onto this Roman transportation conduit. When the chapel was replaced by Constantine in the 4th century, there was not enough room for so large a church between the river and the road which explains the orientation of the basilica away from the heavily traveled path.