The Hermit and the Pilgrim
Over time, the function of the Walls and the spaces within them changed.
In the 15th century, the towers provided shelter for hermits who, withdrawing from the world, devoted their lives to the contemplation of the Divine. The icon of the Holy Virgin Mary above the exit of the third tower after Porta Appia attests to the presence of devotional spaces within the Walls.
Pilgrims traveling along the Via Appia—and those journeying to visit the Eternal City and the numerous relics of saints and martyrs it preserves—could implore a blessing to help them reach the final destination of their spiritual journey safely.
Thus, the offering of bread to the hermit living in solitude within the tower became life-giving sustenance for both figures.
The costumes and props have been inspired by the iconography known from the period and by numerous available historical sources.