CAROLINE AQUEDUCT
One of the most extraordinary engineering feats in 18th-century Europe was the construction of the Acquedotto Carolino (the adjectival form in Italian of Carlo in reference to Charles III of Bourbon, monarch of the kingdom of Naples at the time), including the long "bridges" segment of that waterway across the Maddaloni valley about 5 miles from the modern town of Caserta.
The aqueduct is also known as “Vanvitelli’s Aqueduct” in honor of the architect and engineer responsible for its construction, Luigi Vanvitelli.
[...] In the midst of this lonely dell, the traveller is surprised to behold an immense bridge, formed of a triple row of lofty arches, crossing with gigantic strides from one side to the other.
This bridge forms part of the celebrated aqueduct of Caserta; it is near two thousand feet in length, and two hundred in height, and conveys a whole river of the purest water across the valley.
In length, elevation and effect, its surpasses all similar edifices of modern construction, and may, indeed vie with some of the noblest Roman monuments.
The aqueduct is also known as “Vanvitelli’s Aqueduct” in honor of the architect and engineer responsible for its construction, Luigi Vanvitelli.
[...] In the midst of this lonely dell, the traveller is surprised to behold an immense bridge, formed of a triple row of lofty arches, crossing with gigantic strides from one side to the other.
This bridge forms part of the celebrated aqueduct of Caserta; it is near two thousand feet in length, and two hundred in height, and conveys a whole river of the purest water across the valley.
In length, elevation and effect, its surpasses all similar edifices of modern construction, and may, indeed vie with some of the noblest Roman monuments.
[ http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~jmatthew/naples/carolduct.html ]
ReplyDelete[ John Chetwode Eustace, A classical tour through Italy, an. MDCCCII ]
It's just thanks to it that the royal fountaines of the royal garden of Caserta were filled!
ReplyDelete