Acquedotto leopoldino, Neoclassical aqueduct in Collesalvetti and Livorno, Italy
The Acquedotto Leopoldino is an aqueduct that stretches roughly 18 kilometers through hilly terrain, connecting Colognole to Livorno. It features a series of arches, underground tunnels, and water basins that transported water from the source to the city.
Construction started in 1793 under architect Giuseppe Salvetti, commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany, and finished in 1816 to provide water to Livorno. The project took more than 20 years and represented a major engineering undertaking for the region.
The Cisternone displays a dome design that echoes Rome's Pantheon, embodying the engineering skill of the era. This structure shaped the landscape and remains central to local identity today.
Visitors can explore the structure on a roughly 6-kilometer trail starting from the Fociarella quarry parking area on the SP5 road between Colognole and Valle Benedetta. The path is walkable and offers views of different sections of the aqueduct and the surrounding landscape.
Three large water storage cisterns were designed by architect Pasquale Poccianti and remain among the few preserved elements of the original infrastructure. One of these basins now hosts cultural events, bringing modern use to a structure originally built solely for water supply.
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