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The Aqueduct of Nepi: The Two-Tiered Giant that Deceives the Eye
Anyone arriving in Nepi cannot fail to notice the imposing succession of 36 two-tiered arches stretching for almost 300 metres, running alongside the Farnese walls. At first glance, it looks like a Roman structure, but the Aqueduct of Nepi is a feat of engineering from a much later period, taking nearly two centuries of work and effort to complete.
A Centuries-Long Endeavour
The need to bring running water to the town was an old one. After the first attempts were set in motion in 1559, the project ground to a halt in the face of an insurmountable obstacle: the deep valley that had to be crossed. The celebrated Vignola was one of the various architects who tried in vain to complete the work. The breakthrough came only in 1702, thanks to the tenacity of Cardinal Giuseppe Renato Imperiali and the design of architect Filippo Barigioni.
Water Reaches the Square
Construction lasted 25 years, but in 1727 water finally flowed from the fountain in the main square, symbolic of an epic undertaking. Even today, nearly three centuries later, the aqueduct continues to serve its purpose, feeding the fountains of Nepi (VT) and dominating the landscape with its majestic and unmistakable profile.
