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S. Alessio, Aventine Hill, Rome

. . . THIS MAY TAKE A MOMENT OR TWO . . .

This is the front exterior of S. Alessio, showing the 17th century church fascade (lighter material) with an older,   darker Campanille (belltower) in the background.  Virtually none of the decorative architectural structure of this important Premonstratensian house survives.   However, the cloister garden is still in existence and the walls abuting it are clearly older than the remodelled church. 

Alessio02.jpg (16966 bytes)

Main portal into the front churchyard. Alessio03.jpg (22607 bytes)
Turning to the left in the front churchyard, one sees a residence building which has clearly been remodeled after Premonstratensian times, but which also -- due to space limitations -- occupies the same site as the original Norbertine building. Alessio04.jpg (22700 bytes)
The very colorful interior of the church. Alessio07.jpg (26409 bytes)
Choir area. Alessio06.jpg (21212 bytes)
Dome area directly above main altar (a sliver of which appears at the bottom of this photo). Alessio08.jpg (22261 bytes)
Very old gravestone in the floor of the church, clearly showing a name very common in the Premonstratensian Order -- Hugo -- and which mentions the term "Canonicus", but which shows no Order affilliation! Alessio05.jpg (15792 bytes)
The remains of the cloister garden area are now open to the public and used as a secluded park.  The wall in the background as well as the building are part of the Sta. Sabina church complex.  S. Alessio is situated in back of the photographer in this picture. Alessio09.jpg (33894 bytes)
Another view of this nice, small park Alessio10.jpg (36931 bytes)
This area is a favorite one for families to come and have lunch and spend the afternoon.  Again, Sta. Sabina appears at left in this photo, while S. Alessio would be to the right. Alessio14.jpg (34909 bytes)
Here is a view of S. Alessio taken from the area of the "cloister-park." Alessio13.jpg (20735 bytes)
One can clearly see Romanesque architecture from the exterior of S. Alessio, and the wall behind the church building complex is clearly very old. Alessio15.jpg (22165 bytes)
Almost unnoticed by guests in this cloister-park is an old medieval door which connects what is now the private church property to the cloister park itself. Alessio16.jpg (22381 bytes)
At the western edge of this cloister-park is a waist-high wall, and some of the most spectacular views of Rome west of the Tiber.   Here is the dome of St. Peter's in the background, and Travestere in the foreground. Alessio11.jpg (21366 bytes)
Another view, this time a bit to the northwest.  There is a most delightful breeze here at all times, as well as plenty of water.  Alessio12.jpg (26875 bytes)
This is a very old black-and-white photo of some of the original hewn-stone ornamentation of S. Alessio, from the Premonstratensian period.  It is hung in the private cloister walkway of the church, and not normally available for public viewing. Alessio01.jpg (16138 bytes)