Logo Comune di Nepi

Municipality of Nepi

Culture, Tourism and Youth Policies

Bandiera dell'Italia

The Aqueduct

More information

Nepi’s aqueduct is one of the most peculiar architectures of Tuscia and Lazio. With its 285 meters length it dominates the landscape around the great Farnesian walls of the town.

Entering the city of Nepi, beside the Farnesian Walls, it is possible to see this large aqueduct with two orders of arches. Even though it looks like an old roman aqueduct, it was built in the 16th century and works ended only in 1727.

The visible part of the aqueduct is 285 meters long and it is composed of 36 arches, with a maximum height of almost 20 meters. For many years the town needed a direct water supply inside the walls. Before the realization of the aqueduct, the water was collected in two cisterns collecting rain water, whose presence is documented since roman age, or from the near rivers called Rio Puzzolo and Rio Falisco.

In 1559 researches for springs that could supply the town began. One spring was individuated nearby a place called Varano, some kilometers north-West from Nepi.

The most part of the aqueduct layout runs underground, but when it reaches the city walls it continues above ground. Many architects, including the Vignola, tried to collocate underground the whole aqueduct layout, but none of them succeeded.

In 1702, by order of Cardinal Giuseppe Renato Imperiali, the aqueduct project restarted. The works were directed by architect Filippo Barigioni with Master Giuseppe Bernascone’s assistance.

When the aqueduct was completed, a fountain designed by Barigioni was built in the colonnade in front of the City Hall, as memento of the accomplished venture.

Although almost three hundreds years have passed, this aqueduct keeps supplying water to the public fountains of Nepi.

Information

Address
Piazzale de La Bottata