After decades of inactivity and various attempts at reorganization, Acea (the 51% company of the municipality of Rome) will bring water back to both the ancient fountains of Velletri in via Fontana Fiume, located a stone’s throw from the Pratoni del Vivaro and the territorial border with the two municipalities of Rocca di Papa and Nemi; than in the cisterns of ancient imperial Rome Albano Laziale, located between via Aurelio Saffi and via San Francesco D’Assisi.
Acea in Velletri, water returns to the ancient fountain on the Via Francigena
We start from the Velletri fountain, located in an area that was once very rich in water, namely the Pratoni del Vivaro, close to the pedestrian and landscaped paths of the nearby Via Francigena, in the heart of the Castelli Romani park.
There is little water now, very little, even in this area which until a few years ago was decidedly ‘humid’. The water for use in the historic Veliterno fountain will be brought back by Acea. The municipal water company owned 51% by the municipality of Rome, with the activation of a new and specific pipeline.
This is essentially what was established by the Technical Office of the municipality of Velletri with determination (i.e. administrative act) no. 513 of April 21st.
The cost of activating the new supply will be just over €3 thousand in total, plus the annual cost of the water itself. The start-up is expected within the current year, barring extensions.
The words of the Municipality
“The Municipal Administration – so we read in the documents – needs to initiate a series of interventions aimed at improving the usability of municipal properties with particular reference to social gathering environments.
These properties include the area pertaining to the fountain of Via Fontana Fiume, a significant area from a historical and cultural point of view, which is located along the route of the Via Francigena.
The Administration deems it appropriate, considering the historical-cultural value of the Fontanile, to carry out renovation works in the area, also with the aim of creating a refreshment point for pilgrims traveling along the Via Francigena.
Considering that: the reference area is not served by water supply; for the implementation of the redevelopment interventions the Municipal Administration needs to proceed with the activation of a new water supply. Pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 152/06 and subsequent amendments, the management of the integrated water service in the central Lazio area, which includes the Municipality of Velletri, is the responsibility of the manager Acea Ato2 SpA.
To accept the cost estimate, issued by the Acea Ato2 SpA company, no. 110373730 of €3,184.50 including VAT at 10%, for the activation of the new water supply in the area pertaining to the fountain in Via Fontana Fiume”.
Acea also in Albano, water in Roman cisterns
Water will also flow again in Albano and, in particular, in the Cisternoni, i.e. in the cisterns of imperial Rome. This flow of water was anciently used by the 2nd Parthian Legion of the emperor Septimius Severus.
The water will return and, furthermore, the cisterns themselves will also be valorised thanks to a specific recovery operation. Finally included in a broader museum itinerary. The allocation of public funds will amount to over €615 thousand. All of this will finally happen no later than 2026.
The museum circuit
“Functional restoration and enhancement of Roman cisterns and museum circuit”. Moreover, the words reported, in black and white, in the Three-Year Program of Public Works 2024-2026 launched by the centre-left political majority led by Mayor Massimiliano Borelli and recently made public leave little to the imagination (to read the news, click here ).
From what informally leaks from the municipal administration, Acea – the municipal water company of Rome – would have asked the Albanian municipality for a sum of around €40 thousand per year alone to keep the cisterns constantly full of water. But at the moment no more precise information has emerged.
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 and to the ‘Cisternoni’ of Albano){kind=link}