The most beautiful aqueducts of Ancient Rome


 

Rome is a city full of beautiful things to see and admire, you can’t get bored. The eternal city gives the opportunity to learn more about ancient history. Once in Rome, you have the chance to visit the places where everything started. You will be able to see,  smell, taste and even touch culture. Today we will talk about the most beautiful aqueducts of Ancient Rome and their story. Keep reading for more!

A little bit of history 

Aqueduct by Wikimedia Images – Pixabay

Throughout the territory belonging to the Roman Empire, we can admire the remains of their aqueducts.
Yes, that’s right, the Romans found a way to get the water to the inhabited centres through marvellous architectural works that today we are lucky enough to admire as they have been preserved over time.

The history of the Roman aqueducts started only 440 years after the foundation of the city. As the population increased, the need for drinking water increased. 
The intent was to eliminate health problems that could arise due to a lack of hygiene. Often the Romans drew from the waters of the Tiber River. It actually wasn’t very clean.
Furthermore, the water was used to supply fountains, spas and latrines.
Around the third century BC, there were approximately eleven aqueducts in Rome.
The aqueducts used a system defined as “free fall“, that is, they used gravity.
You must know that the Romans developed the first harsh and pressing pumps in history but that they were rarely used thanks to the system applied to the aqueducts.

Where to see the aqueducts in Rome?

Aqueduct by SofiLayla -Pixabay

If you want to admire these marvelous architectural works, fruit of Roman creativity, then I recommend that you visit the “Parco degli Acquedotti” in Rome.
Here you will find the ruins of the major Roman aqueducts and the remains of other buildings that made Roman history.
The park is located in the south east area of Rome and is completely surrounded by greenery.
It extends for about 240 hectares and its name derives from the remains of the 6 aqueducts found inside.
You can admire the Casale Roma Vecchia, the Iulia aqueduct, Tepula, the Vetus, the Marcio, Claudia and Anio Novus aqueduct.

For more information about the park visit their website here at Parco degli acquedotti.  You will find maps and organized trails to enjoy the park and admire all their wonderful archaeological finds. 

Once there you’ll have the opportunity to admire:

1. Acqua Iulia 

It was built by Agrippa in 33 BC and collected water from springs in the Tuscolana territory and arrived in Rome at Porta Maggiore until it reached the Viminale Gate.

The aqueduct extended for about 23km of which 11 on the surface. Aqua Iulia carried 579 litres of water per second.

It was then joined with the aqua Tepula. The aqua Iulia supplied the areas: Celio, Esquilino, Viminale, Quirinale, Campidoglio, Palatine, Piccolo Aventino and the Roman Forum.

2. Aqua Appia 

Appio Claudio Cieco and  Caio Plauzio Venox in 312 BC built the aqueduct during the Second Samnite War.
The conduit was almost entirely underground, located at a depth of about 15 m, for a length of about 16 km.
It collected water from the springs along a secondary road that today is called Prenestina.

The aqueduct could bring about 876 litres of water to the destination.

3. Aqua Virgo

Aqua Virgo was built by Agrippa. According to a legend, its name derives from the girl who indicated the place of the spring to the soldiers. According to scholars, it refers to the purity of the water. The route of the aqueduct was 20 km, almost all underground except 2 km on the surface.

The Virgo path followed the Via Collatina, partly on arches, and reached the city on the slopes of the Pincio.

4. Anio Vetus 

The Anio Vetus was the second aqueduct built in Rome. It was built with the funds of the booty derived from the victorious war fought by Rome against Taranto and Pirro between 272 and 269 BC. by the censor Manio Curio Dentato. The aqueduct collected water directly from the Aniene River near Tivoli.

5. Aqua Marcia

The third aqueduct was built in 144 BC by Quinto Marcio Re. The aqueduct collected water from the upper Aniene basin, drawing directly from the springs near the present-day municipality of Marano Equo, between Arsoli and Agosta, where today it is possible to find traces of it in the former stone quarry.

The length of the aqueduct was approximately 91 km. The path was underground and on arches. The water arrived in Rome from Porta Maggiore.

6. Aqua Claudia

This aqueduct was one of the most important in ancient Rome. Without forgetting the waste of energy and money that went into its construction! The actual construction of the aqueduct began in 38 AD. by the emperor Caligula and was completed under the principality of Claudius in 52 AD.

7. Anio Novus

The Anio Novus was built by Caligula in 38. It obtained water from the Aniene until it reached Porta Maggiore.
Its route is the longest to date, it reaches 87 km and offered 2,400 liters of water per second.

You can reach the Parco degli Acquedotti by underground from the Termini Station. Catch the A line to Subaugusta and walk to the park for 21 minutes. 

Parco della Caffarella 

 

If you have time and want to know more about the aqueducts and the Roman development thanks to the diffusion of water, I recommend a walk in the Caffarella Park.
You can reach the park from Termini Station by taking bus 118,660, 30, 218, 671.

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