Page 248 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

246  ROME AREA B Y AREA

3 Porta Santo The facade was
Spirito added under Pope
Sixtus V (1585–90).
Via dei Penitenzieri. Map 3 C3. The nave and side
@ 23, 34, 46, 62, 64, 98, 870, 881, 982. chapels are deco ra­
ted with a series of
This gate is located at what light, lively frescoes.
was the southern limit of the The pretty bell tower
“Leonine City,” the area enclosed is earlier, dating from
within walls by Pope Leo IV as a the reign of Sixtus IV
defense against the Saracens, (1471–84). It was
who had sacked Rome in probably the work of
AD 845. The walls measure the pope’s architect,
2 miles (3 km) in circumference. Baccio Pontelli,
Work on the walls started in who also built the
AD 846. Pope Leo personally Hospital of Santo
supervised the army of laborers, Spirito, and the
and thanks to his encourage­ Ponte Sisto (see p212)
ment, the job was completed in farther down the
4 years. He then consecrated his Tiber River.
massive feat of construction. Nave of Santo Spirito in Sassia
Since the time of Pope Leo,
the walls have needed much 4 Santo Spirito 5 Hospital of Santo
reinforcement and repair. in Sassia Spirito
The gateway visible today at
Porta Santo Spirito was built Via dei Penitenzieri 12. Map 3 C3. Borgo Santo Spirito 2. Map 3 C3.
@ 23, 34, 46, 62, 64. Complex &
by the architect Antonio Tel 06­687 9310. @ 23, 34, 46, 62,
da Sangallo the Younger in 64, 98, 870, 881, 982. Open 7:30am– chapel: Open for events only (call
noon & 3–6:30pm Mon–Sat,
06­6835 2433). &
1543–4. It is framed by 9:30am–1pm & 3–6:30pm Sun.
two huge bastions that 5 7 The oldest hospital in Rome, this
were added in 1564 by is said to have been founded as
Pope Pius IV Medici. Built on the site of a a result of a nightmare experi­
Sangallo’s design church erected by King enced by Pope Innocent III
for a monumental Ine of Wessex, who (1198–1216). In the dream, an
entrance to the died in Rome in the angel showed him the bodies
Vatican was never 8th century, the church of Rome’s unwanted babies
completed; the is the work of Antonio dredged up from the Tiber River
principal columns da Sangallo the Younger. in fishing nets. As a result, the
come to an end It was rebuilt (1538–44) pope hastened to build a
abruptly in a modern Sixtus V’s arms over after the Sack of Rome hospice for sick paupers. In 1475
covering of cement. door of Santo Spirito left it in ruins in 1527. the hospital was reorganized

Fresco of an angel in the octagonal chapel of the Hospital of Santo Spirito

US_246-247_EW_Rome_US.indd 246 19/04/2017 12:34
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm