This Rome information blog is written for the guests of the Bed and Breakfast Chaplin and the Little Italy B&B in Rome.
Rome’s longnoses
Wherever you are in Rome you can see water fountains, spouting water, day and night. The water from these “longnoses” (nasoni), as the Romans have nicknamed them, is pefectly drinkable: Even in mid-summer, with temperatures between 35 and 40 Celsius, it’s as cool and fresh as if it has come directly out of the fridge.
What most tourists in Rome are not aware of is that this is still thanks to the aqueduct system which was built in the times of the Roman Empire, in some cases over 2000 years ago.
The Aqueducts in numbers
Added up, the aqueducts come to a total length of 400km, 350 of which are underground. Already when building them, the possibility of the need for repairs was thought of and at regular distances entrances to the aqueducts were constructed. These had marble covers on top of them.
Een legion (in Emperor Augustus’ times a legion consisted of more than 5000 men) of workers was needed for the construction and upkeep of the system, which was overseen by the curator aquarum.
The oldest aqueduct is the Acqua Appia which dates from 312 b.C. Its length is 16km, nothing compared to the longest one (68km), the Acqua Claudia. Like most aqueducts the Acqua Claudia enters Rome at Porta Maggiore.
Hotels near Porta Maggiore
The hotels closest to Porta Maggiore are Hotel Ducale (2 stars) and the 3 star Hotel Donatello. Although both hotels are at the edge of Rome’s center, many of the city’s main tourist attractions can be visited on foot, and pricewise they are cheaper than hotels near the Spanish Steps.
