This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
The Roman Aqueducts of St Cosmas: ancient engineering along the Aniene Valley
Just a short distance from Vicovaro, the Roman Aqueducts of San Cosimato (St Cosmas) stand as an extraordinary feat of hydraulic engineering. Here, in the Aniene Valley, the Romans channelled no fewer than four aqueducts to supply water to Rome. The visiting route winds its way through tunnels carved into the rock, starting from the former convent of San Cosimato and emerging from openings that hang sheer above the river gorge.
The genius of the Roman builders
In this gorge, the Aqua Marcia, dating from 144 BC, and the Aqua Claudia, begun in 38 AD, once crossed paths — alongside the Anio Novus and the oldest of them all, the Anio Vetus. To tame a fragile limestone rock face, the engineers did not dig deep tunnels. Instead, they chose to follow the contour of the rock wall with shallower channels, accessible from external openings. A brilliant - and swift - solution.
Between the sacred and an engineering marvel
The visit begins in the gardens of the former Franciscan convent, which today houses a hospitality facility. From here, a series of rock-hewn steps lead first to small cave chapels and then to the specus — the actual water channels, lined with the characteristic waterproof opus signinum. The windows cut into the galleries offer glimpses over the Aniene gorge. The route once ended at a service bridge, of which only the piers remain today, immortalised in the paintings of Jacob Hackert during his Grand Tour.
Visits must be booked, but there are also special openings organised by local associations. It is advisable to check online for entry details.
