128a.

[Chiesa di S. Maria alle Fornaci, e Convento dei PP. Riformati del Riscatto]

Located outside the Janiculum city walls, in the Valle delle Fornaci (Valley of the Kilns), S. Maria alle Fornaci (1) was begun in 1694, but not finished until about thirty years later. The Nolli map shows it sited on a space opening off Via delle Fornaci, along which there were a number of brick kilns (2) especially active during the building of nearby St. Peter's basilica. The clay for the kilns was excavated in nearby cave or excavation pits (identified in the Nolli map as Cava or Cava di Terra), taken to the furnaces for baking and then brought into the Borgo as brick through the dedicated Porta Fabbrica, Plate 17 (fabbrica meaning construction). Nolli labels at least three cave and five of these kilns, some of which were still active in the early 20th century. The round tower in the distance marks one of the corners of the medieval walls of Borgo.