THE PILASTRI AQUEDUCT
Latest update: 19 March 2022
THE PILASTRI AQUEDUCT
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The Pilastri Aqueduct in Ischia Ponte is one of Ischia's most historic sights, if you follow the main SS270 road that circles the island from Ischia Porto and head east towards Barano you will find this magnificent structure along the way.
Although Roman in appearance, design and structure, the aqueduct was in fact built much more recently than the times of the Roman occupation of Ischia. In 1580 AD, the area that we today call Ischia Ponte was a little village known as Celsa and the villagers relied heavily on their water supply from a spring near the site of Michelangelo's Tower in the Cartaromana area. However, after years of bradyseism (the process by which the Earth's surface is gradually uplifted due to volcanic activity), that particular spring dried up causing panic and hysteria amongst the villagers who would now have to find a new source for their daily water.
The solution was to build the aqueduct which still stands today. Back in the sixteenth century, water flowed from a source around the Fiaiano area, 400 metres in altitude, down to the village of Celsa (Ischia Ponte today), some 550 metres away. When it was created, it was seen as a marvel of modern construction and even today it has an awe-inspiring strength and solidity to it.
To fully appreciate the scale and size of the aqueduct you can get some magnificent views from the Piano Liguori area where you can see the straight lines of the aqueduct as it makes its way from Ischia Ponte up towards the hills and Fiaiano.
Although Roman in appearance, design and structure, the aqueduct was in fact built much more recently than the times of the Roman occupation of Ischia. In 1580 AD, the area that we today call Ischia Ponte was a little village known as Celsa and the villagers relied heavily on their water supply from a spring near the site of Michelangelo's Tower in the Cartaromana area. However, after years of bradyseism (the process by which the Earth's surface is gradually uplifted due to volcanic activity), that particular spring dried up causing panic and hysteria amongst the villagers who would now have to find a new source for their daily water.
The solution was to build the aqueduct which still stands today. Back in the sixteenth century, water flowed from a source around the Fiaiano area, 400 metres in altitude, down to the village of Celsa (Ischia Ponte today), some 550 metres away. When it was created, it was seen as a marvel of modern construction and even today it has an awe-inspiring strength and solidity to it.
To fully appreciate the scale and size of the aqueduct you can get some magnificent views from the Piano Liguori area where you can see the straight lines of the aqueduct as it makes its way from Ischia Ponte up towards the hills and Fiaiano.
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