Aqua Virgo, Roman aqueduct in Rome, Italy.
The Aqua Virgo is a Roman aqueduct running roughly 20 kilometers through and around Rome, mostly hidden below ground but revealing around 1,800 meters of stone arches above the surface. The system carries water from distant springs into the city's heart, delivering it to public fountains and baths.
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa built this aqueduct in 19 BC to supply water to the Baths of Agrippa and other public spaces in Rome. The project represented a major engineering achievement that shaped how the city developed and functioned for centuries.
The name comes from a young girl who revealed a pure water source to Roman soldiers searching for supplies. This legend reflects how people connected the aqueduct to a simple act of human kindness that served an entire city.
The easiest way to see the original Roman stonework is to visit the Rinascente department store, where guided tours access the underground sections. The basement environment is cool and damp, so bring a light jacket and comfortable shoes for walking on uneven stone surfaces.
The aqueduct uses an extremely gentle slope of just 0.025 percent and includes deliberate zigzags to naturally filter sediment as water flows. This ingenious but simple design allowed water to travel long distances without needing complicated machinery or settling pools.
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