The church of S. Chiara was built in the late 16th century, but did not receive its facade until 1627. Vasi's is one of the few images we have of the church before its collapse and demolition in the mid 1850s. Together with its monastery, the church was rebuilt to a totally different design in the 1880s by the architect Luca Carimini, which is shown in the contemporary photograph. The tall building at left is the Seminary Collegio dei Neofiti built under Gregory XIII Boncompagni (1572-1585). Next to it is the house of S. Caterina da Siena (1) which Nolli indicates as a chapel. It is now the Teatro Rossini. In the distance the street meets the flank of the early 17th century Palazzo Fonseca (2) now the Hotel Minerva, whose altana (tower-like belvidere) is silhouetted against the sky and whose main entrance on Piazza della Minerva.
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