Aqueduct, Lucca

There is a magnificent aqueduct constructed by Nottolini (1823-32) found  to the south of the walled part of Lucca. It was just a couple of minutes from the apartment where I stayed.

Water was collected from springs on the northern slope of Mount Pisano, filtered through sand and gravel and carried to Lucca via this aqueduct. It was held in the San Concordia tempio, pictured below.

From the San Concordio temple/tank, potable water was led by metal pipes into fountains in the city

There is an easy walking path along the aqueduct, it would be a great place to take a bike ride!

Water was channelled inside a conduit that passed over a row of more than 400 arches in brick and masonry for a length of about 3250 metres. (Roughly 2 miles for the metrically challenged.)

Nowadays,  you will notice many water fountains in Lucca, with locals refilling bottles and containers. The water comes from the mountains between Lucca and Pisa, called “Monti Pisani“. My landlady told me it is tested regularly, and  that it tasted much better than the water piped into the houses. She was right!