Every time we travel on the autostrada to and from lovely Lucca we pass the Nottolini aqueduct. I have wanted to find where it goes to in Lucca for years.
I decided it had to be near the train station, so I went there and asked a knowledgeable looking gentleman where it was. He told me to go through the underpass to the other side of the tracks, turn left and then take the first street to the right and I would find it. I did.
I first came to the cistern of San Concordio, where the aqueduct ends. Water was drawn from several springs on the northern slope of Mount Pisano and travelled along 3 kilometres of aqueduct to the cistern.
It is cut in 2 by the autosrada, but that is not the only road that goes through the aqueduct.
The city of Lucca has grown outside the walls and the aqueduct is surrounded by houses for some of its length. As I walked further along beside it the houses were left behind and the walk became quite lovely.
People still collect water from several taps along the way.
It is constructed from bricks and stone.
It was designed by Lorenzo Nottolini and work began in 1823 and was completed in 1851 – sorry to disappoint those who thought it was of Roman origin.
It is well worth taking the time to find the aqueduct and walking for a while beside it, even if it is not 2,000 years old.
the benefits of speaking Italian
By: Roz on November 29, 2011
at 6:49 am
It is certainly quite useful sometimes.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 8:17 am
Beautiful photographs – the light is amazing. Funny, I just wrote about water movement of the Romans yesterday. Great minds think alike? Toni
By: orvietoorbust on November 29, 2011
at 7:06 am
I had a look at your post. I love it! I have signed up. I also love Orvieto.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 8:17 am
Thanks Debra, I will sign up for yours as well. Keep ’em coming. 🙂 toni
By: orvietoorbust on November 29, 2011
at 6:25 pm
I never run out of stuff to talk about.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 6:29 am
Thanks. I like the look of this, have often noticed it driving by. Can you walk the whole length of it?
By: From a Tuscan Villa on November 29, 2011
at 7:08 am
Yes, you can walk or cycle to the Nottolini park I described in my comment below. There’s a footbridge over the autostrada. It’s only about 5 km.
By: Heather Jarman on November 29, 2011
at 7:17 am
A couple of commenters have answered this excellent question.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 8:18 am
Debra, your next trip should be to the other end, Nottolini Park, where underground channels collect the water from the spring and beautiful open stone and brick canals carry the excess water through a landscaped park dotted with neoclassical ‘temples’, smaller versions of the one you photographed. I often take people there on my tours for a picnic. In fact, the aqueduct no longer carries water along the top. When they destroyed several arches to build the autostrada, they put the water in a pipe underground. The water still feeds the fountains of Lucca, several also created by Nottolini. The reason it tastes so good is because the water is purified by ultraviolet light instead of chlorine. Halfway between Lucca and the park is a restaurant, Casina delle Rose, tucked almost under the arches, where you can have a workers’ lunch for €10. Nottolini was a prolific engineer-architect; he also built the chain bridge at Fornoli and I think he designed the casino opposite your flat, but you’d better check on that one.
By: Heather Jarman on November 29, 2011
at 7:15 am
I would love to go to the other end. That’s a plan for my next trip.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 8:19 am
Thanks for the information. Adding in the possibility of lunch now makes it an even more attractive trip!
By: From a Tuscan Villa on December 2, 2011
at 9:48 am
We did most of this walk the other day. We were too late for lunch though! http://tuscanyvillarosalena.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/a-winter-walk-lucca-tuscany/
By: From a Tuscan Villa on January 10, 2012
at 11:51 am
I love the aqueduct. I want to go to the other side of the autostrada now and see the rest.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 10, 2012
at 9:53 pm
I love the Aqueduct, but Rafael loves it even more because of his profound admiration for Lorenzo Nottolini, the architect-engineer (he held the two degrees) who designed it. Nottolini had a brilliant career and he worked for both the Bonapartes and the Borbones and was appointed “Royal Architect”. He was responsible for the current “Anfiteatro” and, closer to us, the wonderful “Ponte delle Catene” at Fornoli.
In Lucca, the street behind the railway station in San Concordio is named after him.
Rafael keeps on telling me all the stories related to his work and you know… “once an architect, always an architect”. His mind has not retired… as yet. And I further think that architect’s wives should get an honorary degree for putting up with so much torture… Just kidding!
Great photos! Rafael says that you should have studied architecture, as you have “the eye of an architect”. He particularly likes your pics of bridges.
By: Mulino Dominillo on November 29, 2011
at 7:16 am
Please thank Raphael for his kind comments. I am the daughter and granddaughter of builders.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 8:33 am
Roman or not, antiquity or not, it is beautiful. I love the similarity between the geometry of the arches/columns and the surrounding rows of trees. Very beautiful, indeed.
By: Charlotte on November 29, 2011
at 7:44 am
It seems I now have to investigate the other end.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 8:34 am
I’ve seen something like this when flying into Rome. I have no idea how close you are to Rome, but is it the same one, or same thing? I’ve often wondered – what is that? Now I know.
We collect fountain water all the time, it’s free and tastes better than bottled water.
By: Jennifer Avventura on November 29, 2011
at 11:18 am
We are not close enough to Rome for you to see this aqueduct, but there are lots of them all over Italy, so I am not surrised that you have seen them from the air. We have springs here in Bagni di Lucca as well. I don’t buy bottled water unless I am travelling, it is a waste of money and resources.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2011
at 11:26 am
What amazing feats of engineering and building these aqueducts are – I read with interest the earlier comment about the architect/engineer who designed it.
By: Just Add Attitude on November 29, 2011
at 11:37 am
The aqueduct is beautiful. I’m pleased it has been kept even though the water doesn’t run along the top any more.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 6:23 am
It is beautiful… and the light was gorgeous!
By: maru on November 29, 2011
at 12:18 pm
It was mid afternoon on a beautiful autumn day.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 6:24 am
Roman or not, it’s still stunning! And it’s true, the geometry of the archs in relation to the bending branches is in and of itself lovely.
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on November 29, 2011
at 1:04 pm
It is a beautiful structure indeed.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 6:25 am
What a find and tell me does water still run along up there? There are taps.. How wonderful.. c
By: ceciliag on November 30, 2011
at 1:29 am
The water now runs in pipes under the aqueduct, which is probably more efficient but not nearly as delightful.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 6:30 am
ah.. thank you. c
By: ceciliag on November 30, 2011
at 7:58 pm
Roman or not, it is soo beautiful. the pics too.
By: Fragolina on November 30, 2011
at 10:01 am
I love the aqueduct. I’m so glad I found it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 7:26 pm
What a beautiful walk. Whether or not it’s Roman, it is still impressive.
By: Journey Photographic on November 30, 2011
at 11:28 am
It’s great isn’t it?
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 7:26 pm
Years ago, I had dinner in a lovely outdoor cafe in the shadow of that aqueduct, a repast and ambience with true Tuscan ambience. Thanks for bringing back some lovely memories!
By: composerinthegarden on November 30, 2011
at 1:15 pm
I have to look for that cafe.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 7:27 pm
Hi Debra: this was quite an interesting post. im collecting from the Blogs things i would like to see when i come back to italy.
this would be one of them. i love stuff like this, the history and such. it is so beautiufl and unusual and the lunch for 10E is a must for sure.
By: george miori on November 30, 2011
at 4:00 pm
You will love Lucca George.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 7:27 pm
Debra as always you never fail to disappoint your photos are stunning and your commentary so interesting. We have passed the aquaduct a couple of times and had no idea of its beauty and history, thank you.
By: Andrea & David Waterhouse on November 30, 2011
at 9:55 pm
I love the aqueduct. When I see it from the autostrada I know I am close to Lucca. It is an excellent landmark.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 30, 2011
at 10:10 pm
I would have also made the (incorrect) assumption that it was Roman!
I think the brick work is great – there’s real character there, and I do enjoy a building/structure that has character 🙂
By: Lu on December 1, 2011
at 10:33 am
I think we “met” when I first posted a picture of this aqueduct a few years back. Great photos!
By: paninigirl on December 2, 2011
at 3:26 pm
It was indeed the aqueduct that introduced us.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 2, 2011
at 10:02 pm
[…] To see another wonderful Lorenzo Nottolini structure click here. […]
By: Ponte delle Catene, Fornoli | Bella Bagni di Lucca on November 16, 2013
at 5:57 pm
I’ve also admired the acqueduct for some time. You can find other photos and information on it at
http://longoio.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/an-awesome-aqueduct/
By: Francis Pettitt on November 17, 2013
at 5:52 am
Thank you Francis for the extra information.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 17, 2013
at 5:25 pm