Acqua Paola
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The idea for the Acqua Paola began in 1605 when Camillo Borghese became Pope Paul V. At that time, the Roman suburbs west of the Tiber River, including the Vatican, were suffering from chronic water shortage. The new pope persuaded the Municipality of Rome to pay for the development of an acqueduct to provide a better water supply to that part of the city.
Lake Bracciano, 40 km north-west of Rome, was selected as a suitable spring. Instead of building a new acqueduct altogether, the Acqua Traiana was restored. This 1st Century acqueduct was built by Emperor Trajan from 98-117 AD. It channelled water from Lake Bracciano to Rome in ancient Roman times but had fallen into disuse by the 17th Century. In 1608, Giovanni Fontana supervised the work of restoring it.
In 1612, the acqueduct was completed. It was initially called the Acqua Sabbatina or Acqua Bracciano, but was renamed Acqua Paola in honour of Paul V.
The fountain at the end of the acqueduct was referred to as "Il Fontanone" - the Big Fountain - because of its size. It was constructed in white marble and granite. Most of the material was pillaged from the Forum of Nerva. Originally, it consisted of three large central arches, separated by columns, and a smaller one on each side. Water gushed into five basins at the base of each arch.
Then, in 1690, Pope Alexander VIII commissioned Carlo Fontana, Giovanni's nephew, to enlarge the fountain. Carlo replaced the five small basins with an enormous single one which remains to this day.
[edit] External links
- Roman Fountains
- Satellite photo Acqua Paola is the white hemicircle in the center. To the Northeast is San Pietro in Montorio and the Bramante Tempietto.
