Between Past and Present: Aqua Virgo through the Time

Aqua Virgo is the oldest Roman aqueduct still functioning in Rome. It has characterized not only the countryside to the east of the capital, but also the city centre, and even now it supplies water to some of the symbolic fountains of Rome. When discussing the ancient Roman aqueducts, what usually springs to mind is the image of the monumental archways that spanned entire valleys, a widespread theme in the 19th century art and literature. Different is the case of Aqua Virgo which, running mostly underground, has left very few archaeological remains on the surface. Nevertheless, even if the visual impact of the Virgo was inevitably much lower than that of the aqueducts with monumental arches, it has represented a significant element of the landscape and affected the urban planning and land exploitation through the centuries. The continuous activity of Aqua Virgo has been assured by its mainly underground route, which preserved it from the test of time and destruction. But to keep it active, regular operations of cleaning, restorations and even rebuilding were a necessity. During the 16th century the popes, which sought to have a plan of modernization of Rome and its infrastructure, showed interest in Aqua Virgo and the restoration of its whole conduit. From that moment, reports of damages, and related maintenance and restoration works have been regularly recorded. Starting from the study of ancient sources, archival documents and cartographies, this research aims to investigate the mutual relationship between the aqueduct and the landscape. Geology and orography of the crossed areas have influenced Aqua Virgo and its route towards Rome. Depending on the nature of the soil, different techniques and materials have been employed, as well as different planning strategies have been taken to avoid inaccessible terrain and densely inhabited areas. Field walking surveys along with direct analysis of the monument features would offer new data. This new information would provide the foundation for a better comprehension of the diachronic transformations of Aqua Virgo in its geographical, social and cultural context. By comparing the structure and its surroundings with the cited archival works, it would be possible to identify the sections of the aqueduct which are completely rebuilt or no longer visible, either because of destruction or urban expansion. At the same time, it would give the possibility of distinguishing the newer sections and possible modifications from the ancient ones.