Rome in the Footsteps of an XVIIIth Century Traveller (original) (raw)

Links to this page can be found in Book 1, Map D2, Day 8 and Rione Borgo.

The page covers:
[The plate by Giuseppe Vasi](#The Plate)
Today's view
Porta Fabrica
Cupolino del Vignola
The Walls between Porta Fabrica and Porta Pertusa

The Plate (No. 17)

This 1747 etching by Giuseppe Vasi shows the walls built by [Pope Pius IV](Storia22.html#Pius IV) and [Pope Pius V](Storia22.html#Pius V) around the Vatican after 1562; a small gate was opened to allow the passage of the bricks needed by Fabbrica di S. Pietro (in Latin Fabrica Sancti Petri), the body in charge of building the [new basilica](Vasi41.htm#The Plate) and which today is responsible for its maintenance. Fabbrica is the Italian word for factory; the low building on the right side of the plate was a kiln where the bricks were made; they were marked with the letters A.U.FA. (ad usum Fabricae) in order to exempt them from duties.
The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Basilica Vaticana (S. Pietro); 2) Cupolino del Vignola; 3) [Cavalry Barracks near Porta Cavalleggeri](Vasi16.html#The Plate); 4) Hill of [Sant'Onofrio](Vasi123a.htm#The Plate). 1), 3) and 4) are covered in more detail in other pages. The map shows also 5) Porta Fabrica.

Today

The view in January 2010 (the modern white building is 1971 Aula delle Udienze by Pier Luigi Nervi, a large Audience Hall which seats 8,000)

Porta Fabrica was closed in 1870 when Pope Pius IX retired to the Vatican after the Italian troops had entered Rome. Because the ground was raised in order to build a modern road leading to new developments along Via Aurelia, today only its upper section is barely visible (red asterisk).

Aula delle Udienze seen from the dome of S. Pietro; in the foreground the tip of Sacrestia di S. Pietro

Porta Fabrica

(left) The site of the former gate; (right) coat of arms of [Pope Clement XI](Storia26.html#Clement XI)

The gate was not protected by towers or bastions and only a damaged coat of arms indicates its location.

Cupolino del Vignola

View of the southern side of Basilica di S. Pietro

The plate shows one of the two small domes which were designed before the main dome. The construction of the new basilica started in 1506; in 1564 when Michelangelo died the four gigantic pillars and the drum they supported were completed; Jacopo Barozzi, known as il Vignola replaced Michelangelo as Head of Fabbrica di S. Pietro, but rather than working at the completion of the dome he preferred to concentrate on two small domes (cupolini), as a sort of test for developing the appropriate construction technique for the main one. That on the southern side of the basilica was actually completed after the main dome as one can see in a 1593 Map of Rome by Antonio Tempesta.

(left) The two domes; (right) southern "cupolino"

Michelangelo planned to use a round arch for the main dome and Vignola followed this approach in the design of the cupolini, whereas Giacomo Della Porta, who in 1589 completed the main dome, used a slightly pointed arch which enhances its vertical thrust. This is very evident when looking at them side by side. You may wish to learn more about the involvement of the popes in the construction of S. Pietro.

The Walls between Porta Fabrica and [Porta Pertusa](Vasi18.htm#The Plate)

Section of the walls near the highest point of Monte Vaticano

The street along the walls is very steep and it offers nice views over the main dome of S. Pietro and the stone pines of Rome.

(left) Torre di S. Giovanni; (right) Torre della Radio Vaticana

The XVIth century fortifications of the Vatican included two circular towers which can be seen behind this section of the walls; one of the towers was used in the early XXth century for radio broadcasting. Today Radio Vaticana is broadcasted from S. Maria di Galeria.

(left) Gate for the railway; (right) bastion near Porta Pertusa

In 1929 an overall agreement (Patti Lateranensi) was reached between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy in order to settle the issues arising from the 1870 events; one of the provisions of the agreement established the construction of a short track to link the Vatican City State to the Italian railway net; a small station was built and the walls were opened at this location to allow the passage of trains. This line is very rarely used; on October 4, 1962 Pope John XXIII started from this station the first railway journey of a pope since 1870; he visited Loreto and Assisi.

Next plate in Book 1: [Porta Pertusa](Vasi18.htm#The Plate).
Next step in Day 8 itinerary: [Seminario di S. Pietro in Vaticano](Vasi166.htm#The Plate).

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:

###### Porta Fabbrica

##### Perch� in questa valle hanno trasportato i moderni Fornaciari la fabbrica de' mattoni, tegole, ed altre opere di creta, quivi fu aperta questa porta per comodo della fabbrica della citt� Leonina, e della Basilica Vaticana, donde ne prese il nome; perch� alle dette fornaci corrisponde, ed � pi� vicino alla Basilica.