There are, indeed, ranged along the walls of the side aisles, several ancient marble coffins, curiously carved, and with semi-circular covers, which contain the bodies of the earliest Bishops of the See.

But the little altar is the sole object that breaks the continuity of the open floor.

The body of St.Apollinare was originally laid beneath it, but was in a subsequent age removed to a more specially honourable position under the high altar at the eastern end of the church.

There is still, however, the slab deeply carved with letters of ancient form, which tells how St.Romauld, the founder of the order of Camaldoli, praying by night at that altar, saw in a vision St.
Apollinare, who bade him leave the world, and become the founder of an order of hermits.
It was on the same stones that the knees of St.Romauld had pressed, that the Capucin was kneeling, as Paolina walked up the nave of the church.

The peaked hood of his brown frock was drawn over his head, for the air of the church was deadly cold, and the fever and ague of many a successive autumn had done their work upon him.