Back Story of Landscape Fountains
Back Story of Landscape Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a well educated man, reigned the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of old classical Greek documents into Latin. He undertook the embellishment of Rome to turn it into the worthy capital of the Christian world.
Starting in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent restoration at the bidding of the Pope. The ancient Roman custom of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the point where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. The architect Leon Battista Alberti was commissioned by the Pope to construct a wall fountain where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain as well as the renowned baroque fountains located in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona were eventually supplied with water from the altered aqueduct he had rebuilt.
The Outdoor Water Features
The Outdoor Water Features Water fountains were originally practical in function, used to deliver water from rivers or springs to towns and hamlets, providing the inhabitants with clean water to drink, bathe, and prepare food with. To produce water flow through a fountain until the late 1800’s, and generate a jet of water, demanded the force of gravity and a water source such as a spring or reservoir, located higher than the fountain. Fountains throughout history have been developed as monuments, impressing local citizens and tourists alike.
When you encounter a fountain nowadays, that is not what the first water fountains looked like. A natural stone basin, carved from rock, was the very first fountain, used for holding water for drinking and ceremonial functions. The original stone basins are thought to be from around 2000 B.C.. The force of gravity was the power source that controlled the earliest water fountains. These historic fountains were built to be functional, usually situated along reservoirs, creeks and waterways to supply drinking water. Fountains with flowery decoration began to show up in Rome in approximately 6 B.C., normally gods and animals, made with stone or bronze. The impressive aqueducts of Rome provided water to the eye-catching public fountains, most of which you can travel to today.
Keep Your Large Outdoor Fountain Tidy
Keep Your Large Outdoor Fountain Tidy It is vital to carefully maintain water fountains for them to function optimally. It is easy for foreign items to find their way into outdoor fountains, so keeping it clean is essential. Another factor is that water that is subjected to sunlight is vulnerable to growing algae. Mix hydrogen peroxide, sea salt, or vinegar into the water to avoid this particular issue. There are those who like to use bleach, but that is harmful to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided.
An extensive cleaning every three-four months is recommended for garden fountains. Prior to cleaning, all the water must be taken out. Once it is empty, clean inside the reservoir with a gentle cleanser. If there is detailed artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Do not leave any soap deposits inside or on the fountain.
Calcium and fresh water organisms could get inside the pump, so you should really disassemble it to get it truly clean. To make it less difficult, soak it in vinegar for a while before cleaning. If you want to remove build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water rather than tap water, as these don’t contain any ingredients that will stick to the inside of the pump.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain daily and add water if you see that the level is depleted. Allowing the water level to get too low can result in damage to the pump - and you certainly do not want that!