Italy, Marano Equo

Marano Equo is located on a hill in the Aniene Valley in an area rich in springs and its history is closely linked to water. Its name recalls the ancient people, the Equi, who were conquered by the Romans. This area was one of the places the Romans used as a water supply and by 400 BC it was a Roman colony. It has two major aqueducts: Aqua Marcia and Claudio. The Acqua Marcia dates back to 144 BC and was the third aqueduct of Rome. Taking water from a spring in the town of Marano Fair it came to Rome over a distance of 90 km including 80 km underground and 11 monumental arches. Its construction was already planned in 179 BC, but was delayed due to opposition from part of Marcus Licinius Crassus who did not want the aqueduct on his land (an ancient solar farm protester). The Aqueduct Claudio was the eighth aqueduct and one of the most technologically advanced. Taking water from two ponds located between the towns of Marano Equo and Arsoli it had a path of 68 km over 11 arches and 5 bridges. Along the way, it twice crossed the Acqua Marcia aqueduct and arrived in Rome where it had a parallel path to the water 'Anio Novus'. At Porta Maggiore you can still see a part of the Aurelian Walls where you can recognize the two aqueduct channels. After the period of the Barbarian invasions, around the tenth century, the inhabitants of Subiaco built a fortified castle around which formed the current village. Since then, its history has been linked to the monastery of Subiaco.