Creators of the First Garden Fountains

Creators of the First Garden Fountains Water fountain designers were multi-talented people from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century, often serving as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and cultivated scholars all in one person. Exemplifying the Renaissance artist as a inspiring genius, Leonardo da Vinci toiled as an innovator and scientific specialist. The forces of nature led him to explore the properties and motion of water, and due to his fascination, he systematically documented his ideas in his now renowned notebooks. Remodeling private villa configurations into innovative water showcases complete with symbolic significance and natural wonder, early Italian water feature creators paired imagination with hydraulic and horticultural abilities. The humanist Pirro Ligorio, celebrated for his virtuosity in archeology, architecture and garden design, provided the vision behind the splendors in Tivoli. Well versed in humanist themes and classical technical readings, some other water feature designers were masterminding the excellent water marbles, water functions and water antics for the countless mansions near Florence.

Rome’s Ingenious Water Transport Systems

Rome’s Ingenious Water Transport Systems Rome’s first raised aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in 273 BC; prior to that, people living at higher elevations had to rely on natural streams for their water.

When aqueducts or springs weren’t easily accessible, people dwelling at higher elevations turned to water pulled from underground or rainwater, which was made available by wells and cisterns. From the early sixteenth century, water was routed to Pincian Hill through the underground channel of Acqua Vergine. Throughout the length of the aqueduct’s network were pozzi, or manholes, that gave entry. Even though they were originally developed to make it possible to support the aqueduct, Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi started out using the manholes to collect water from the channel, opening when he obtained the property in 1543. Even though the cardinal also had a cistern to collect rainwater, it couldn't supply enough water. Via an orifice to the aqueduct that flowed below his property, he was set to satisfy his water needs.