Pescaia di San Niccolò, Medieval weir on Arno River, Florence, Italy
The Pescaia di San Niccolò is a medieval weir that stretches across the Arno and functions as a water management structure with barriers and channels. The construction regulates water flow through multiple openings and directs the water in different directions according to needs.
The weir was built in medieval times as a solution for water management along the Arno and enabled use by mills and other enterprises. Leonardo da Vinci documented this structure in his notes and referred to its technical features.
The structure supported many water-powered wool mills along the riverbanks that formed the foundation of Florence's textile industry. These mills were central to the city's economic power during the medieval and Renaissance periods.
The structure is located in central Florence and is visible from the river or nearby pedestrian paths that run along the banks. You can view it from various points, with the bridges offering the best perspectives to understand its layout and function.
Nearby are remnants of the Isola dei Cocomeri, a former river island that historically influenced local water management strategies. This island is now mostly gone, but its history shows how the river shaped the city's development.
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