Multis enim notissima est sanctitas loci: Paulinus and the Gradual Rise of Nola as a Center of Christian Hospitality1

Thanks to the network of hospitality created by Paulinus, Nola was transformed from a rural sanctuary to a prominent cultural and ascetic center in Italy, becoming a major stop on the route from East to West and from South to North, as well as to the imperial court. This paper, offered as a supplement to the recent works on Paulinus, presents the first prosopographical analysis and chronological list of the visitors. Previously ignored sources not only provide an insight into the different social classes and aims of Paulinus' guests, but also illuminate the role the monastery played in religious politics under Honorius.