Wignacourt Aqueduct

Wignacourt Aqueduct

Part of the aqueduct at Birkirkara
Begins Dingli and Rabat
Ends Valletta
Coordinates 35°53′35.4″N 14°27′36.8″E / 35.893167°N 14.460222°E / 35.893167; 14.460222Coordinates: 35°53′35.4″N 14°27′36.8″E / 35.893167°N 14.460222°E / 35.893167; 14.460222
Length c. 26.5 km (29,000 yd)[lower-alpha 1]
Capacity 1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) daily
Construction began 19 October 1596 (first attempt)
9 January 1610 (second attempt)
Opening date 21 April 1615
Closing date 20th century

The Wignacourt Aqueduct (Maltese: L-Akwedott ta' Wignacourt) is a 17th-century aqueduct in Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John to carry water from springs in Dingli and Rabat to the newly-built capital city Valletta. The aqueduct was carried through underground pipes and a system of arches along depressions in the ground.

The first attempts to build the aqueduct were made by Grand Master Martin Garzez in 1596, but construction was suspended before being continued in 1610. The watercourse was inaugurated five years later on 21 April 1615. Several engineers took part in the project, including Bontadino de Bontadini, Giovanni Attard and Natale Tomasucci. The aqueduct was named after Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, who partially financed its construction.

The aqueduct remained in use until the 20th century. Most of its arches still survive today, and can still be seen in the localities of Attard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Fleur-de-Lys and Santa Venera. Other remains of the aqueduct include water towers at Santa Venera, Ħamrun and Floriana, and several fountains in Floriana and Valletta.

History

Lone arch at Balzan

In 1566, the capital city of Valletta was founded on the Sciberras Peninsula, which did not have a good water supply. Rainwater collected within the city was not enough to meet the needs of its population. Water had to be carted from springs to the city, but this became difficult by the end of the 16th century, when the city had become the largest settlement in Malta.[3] At the time, there were also fears of an Ottoman attack on Malta,[4] so a steady water supply to the capital was a priority for the military authorities in the case of a siege.[5]

Wignacourt Aqueduct at the boundary between Balzan and Birkirkara

The order to build an aqueduct to carry water from springs in Dingli and Rabat to the capital was issued on 19 October 1596. That year, Grand Master Grand Master Martin Garzez brought in the Jesuit Padre Giacomo to design the watercourse. His design was accepted and work was begun, but construction was suspended soon afterwards due to financial reasons.[5][6]

On 9 January 1610, works on the aqueduct continued under the direction of another Jesuit called Padre Natale Tomasucci. By this time, Garzez had died and was succeeded as Grand Master by Alof de Wignacourt.[7] In July 1612, the Bolognese hydraulic expert Bontadino de Bontadini took over the project,[8] probably on the recommendation of Inquisitor Evangelista Carbonesi.[9] Bontadini designed a new watercourse with water being carried through underwater pipes, and over stone arches when there were depressions in the ground.[7] Bontadini was assisted by a Maltese capomastro Giovanni Attard and several other engineers.[5] 600 local workers were employed in the construction of the aqueduct, which was completed in 1614 and inaugurated on 21 April 1615. The aqueduct cost a total of 434,605 scudi, most of which were paid by Grand Master Wignacourt.[6] The aqueduct was therefore named in his honour.[10]

Part of the aqueduct at Birkirkara, now on the grounds of a government school

Upon its completion, the aqueduct supplied 1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) of water every day to around 30,000 people. The constant supply of water brought about a rise in the populations of Valletta, Floriana and other towns and villages along the route of the aqueduct.[11]

The aqueduct was improved by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc in 1780.[12] On 4 September 1798, in the early stages of the Maltese uprising against the French, insurgents ambushed French soldiers near the aqueduct at Mrieħel, in the limits of Birkirkara.[13]

Wignacourt Aqueduct at Mrieħel, with the Farsons Brewery in the background. The stones with circular holes were originally part of Tomasucci's pipes from the first attempt to build the aqueduct.

In 1907, there was a proposal to construct buildings on top of the aqueduct, with its arches effectively serving as an arcade. The Office of the Public Works drew up plans for these buildings, but eventually nothing materialized.[14] The aqueduct remained in use until the early 20th century.[15]

Between 2004 and 2005, the aqueduct's surviving arches were restored and a lighting system was installed, at a total cost of Lm 140,000.[16][17] Some of the arches are in need of restoration once again, mainly due to pollution since a major road is now located along the aqueduct.[18] A section of the aqueduct was extensively damaged in December 2013 due to a car crash, but the damage has since been repaired.[19]

Various sections of the aqueduct are scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) as grade 1 national monuments and are listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[20][21][22][23]

Architecture

Wignacourt Aqueduct at Peter Paul Rubens Street in Attard

The aqueduct ran from the springs in Rabat and Dingli to the countryside near Attard through underwater pipes. From Attard onwards, the ground level was irregular so stone arches were constructed where there were depressions.[7] The arches begin at present-day Peter Paul Rubens Street (Maltese: Triq Peter Paul Rubens) in Attard, and are initially quite small.[20] They continue through Mdina Road (Maltese: Triq l-Imdina) in Balzan and Birkirkara, and the size of the arches gradually increases as the ground level drops.[21][22]

At Fleur-de-Lys, the aqueduct crossed the road, and the Wignacourt Arch was built to commemorate the project. The arches then continue through St. Joseph High Road (Maltese: Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp) in Santa Venera,[23] until they stop at a small tower known as the Tower of St. Joseph. From this tower, water continued its journey to Ħamrun, Blata l-Bajda, Floriana and Valletta through underground pipes once again. Water inspection towers were also built at Ħamrun and Floriana.[12]

The aqueduct was built of local limestone. Stones were attached with the use of pozzolana. It was this successful feature that gave most praise to Bontadini.[11]

Wignacourt Arch/Fleur-de-Lys Gate

Main article: Wignacourt Arch
The reconstructed Wignacourt Arch (or Fleur-de-Lys Gate)

The triumphal archway at the boundary between Fleur-de-Lys and Santa Venera is known as the Wignacourt Arch or the Fleur-de-Lys Gate. It has three doorways, and it is adorned with Wignacourt's coat of arms and three sculpted fleurs-de-lis, the heraldic symbols of Wignacourt. The suburb of Fleur-de-Lys got its name from this arch, and fleurs-de-lis are featured on the flags and coat of arms of both Fleur-de-Lys and Santa Venera.[10] One of the original plaques on the arch gave due respect to the engineer Bontadino de Bontadini. The arch together with the aqueduct's water towers and fountains were the first expression of baroque architecture in Malta.[11]

The original arch was demolished in 1944, and a roundabout was later built on its site. The construction of a replica of the arch was approved in 2012.[24] The local councils of Santa Venera and Birkirkara, as well as the Fleur-de-Lys Administrative Committee disagreed on what the arch's name should be, and eventually agreed in 2014 that it should be called "The Wignacourt Arch Known As The Fleur-de-Lys Gate".[25] The arch was reconstructed in 2015,[26] and it was inaugurated on 28 April 2016.[27]

Water inspection towers

Santa Venera

Tower of St. Joseph (it-Turretta) at Santa Venera
The Tower of St. Joseph viewed from the rear

The first inspection tower of the Wignacourt Aqueduct is located in present day Santa Venera. It is called the Tower of St. Joseph (Italian: Torre di San Giuseppe), but it is commonly known as it-Turretta in Maltese or the Torretta in Italian. The turret is linked to the aqueduct's arches, and it has two floors with a buttressed lower level, giving it the resemblance of a coastal watchtower such as the De Redin towers. It is not clear if the present structure is the original one, since the original designs of the aqueduct show a slightly different tower.[4] The tower had the following inscription (no longer visible):[1]

QUAM SUBTERRANEIS SESE DUCTIBUS
INFERENTEM HOC LOCO AMITTIS AQUAM
EADEM URBE MEDIA PULCHERRIMO
SESE FONTE COMPERIES EFFERENTEM.
INGENIO MIRO BONTADINI DE BONTADINIS BONON.

Ħamrun

Il-Monument tat-Tromba at Ħamrun

The second water inspection tower was built on the hill of St. Nicholas in Ħamrun, and it is known as il-Monument tat-Tromba[28] or it-Turretta ta' Atoċja.[29] It has a round shape, and water originally flowed through an open tank in the tower. The tower contains Wignacourt's coat of arms and a commemorative inscription which reads:[1]

VT SPIRITVS IN AQVIS
SIC SPIRITVS AB AQVIS.
(meaning As there is life in water, life started from water)

The tower still exists, but it is in a dilapidated state and it is surrounded by modern houses.[12]

In 1780, when the aqueduct was improved by De Rohan, a commemorative obelisk was erected some distance away from the tower. It is now found in a private backyard. It has a coat of arms which was damaged in World War II,[30] and an inscription which means:[31]

Emmanuel De Rohan made this aqueduct stronger for the collection of water, with a newer one better built by the kind hearted Prince for the health of his people in the year 1780.

Floriana

Inscription on the water tower
Wignacourt Water Tower at Floriana

The third and final water inspection tower was built in Floriana, and it became known as the Wignacourt Water Tower. It is located close to Argotti Botanical Gardens and the Sarria Church. It is a round structure supported by pilasters, and it also contains a fountain and a horse trough. The top of the tower contains a sculpted fleur-de-lis, and it is also decorated with the coat of arms of the Order of St. John and the personal arms of Wignacourt.[32] Below the coats of arms is the following inscription:[1]

TURRICULA ORNATUM LILIIS CAPUT EFFERO VT VRBE
INSPICIAM FONTEM VIVIFICANTIS AQUÆ.
BONTADINO DE BONTADINIS, BONOM. AQUÆ DUCTORE MDCXV.

The tower was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.[33] The tower has been a grade 1 scheduled property since 1994.[34]

The tower was restored between June 2015 and June 2016 by the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure.[35][36] The lion relief, puring water, that is part of the water-trough (which is attached to the fountain) has eroded over the years and was replaced with a replica in 2016. The interior consists of a spiral staircase which was also restored in 2016.[34][37][38]

Fountains

With the completion of the Wignacourt Aqueduct, many fountains supplied by water from the aqueducts were built in Valletta.[39]

Wignacourt Fountain

Wignacourt Fountain in St. Philip's Gardens, Floriana

The first fountain which was connected to the aqueduct was the Wignacourt Fountain, located in St. George's Square in Valletta, facing the Grandmaster's Palace. The inauguration ceremony of the aqueduct on 21 April 1615 was held at this fountain. When the square became a parade ground for the British military,[40] the fountain was relocated to St. Philip's Gardens in Floriana, where it remains today.[41]

The baroque fountain consists of a large circular basin with three smaller seashell-like basins above it, supported on a pedestal containing sculpted dolphins.[42][43] It is scheduled as a Grade 1 monument, but it is currently in a dilapidated state.[44]

Fountain at the Valletta Marina

A painting of Neptune's Fountain at the original location in 1664
Statue of Neptune at the Grandmaster's Palace

Another fountain was located at Valletta's marina, just outside Del Monte Gate and near the fish market.[45][46] It had an ornate basin, a marble cannon barrel-shaped spout, topped by a bronze statue of Neptune holding a trident in one hand, with the other hand resting on an escutcheon containing Wignacourt's coat of arms. The statue is based on the Portrait of Andrea Doria as Neptune.[47][45] The marble of the spout has a latin inscription which translates to English saying "Why are you afraid little boat? there is no fire here, but water instead of shot."[48]

According to Giovanni Bonello, the statue was sculpted by Leone Leoni in 1584.[45][49][50][51] The fountain supplied excess water from the Wignacourt Fountain to ships anchored at the Grand Harbour.[1][52]

In 1858, the statue of Neptune was relocated to the Grandmaster's Palace's lower courtyard,[45][53][54] which is now also known as Neptune's Courtyard.[45][52] The fountain's spout is now located at the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu.[52]

The statue of Neptune is often described as a giant.[45][53] The area around the original location of the fountain remained known as fuq l–iġgant (on the giant) until well into the 20th century.[55][56]

Omnibus Idem fountain

Omnibus Idem fountain

Another fountain, sometimes also known as the Wignacourt Fountain, was built close to Porta Reale in Valletta. It consists of a lion's head pouring out water into a stone basin, topped by the coat of arms of Wignacourt and the Order and surrounded by a garland of flowers and interlocking seashells. Below the coats of arms is a radiating sun with the inscription Omnibus Idem (meaning the same to all), indicating that the water was freely available to everyone.[39][57]

This fountain was relocated a number of times throughout its history: first in 1874 when the building near which it was built was demolished, in the 1960s when the City Gate was rebuilt, in 2000 when Saint James Cavalier was renovated and converted into a cultural centre, and again in the early 2010s during the City Gate Project. Due to these relocations and restorations, nothing remains of the original fountain.[58][59]

Other fountains

Pope Paul V Fountain at the Mall in Floriana, which was also connected to the aqueduct.[9]

Other fountains built in subsequent centuries, such as the Lion Fountain in Floriana, which was built in 1728 during the magistracy of António Manoel de Vilhena, were also supplied by water from the aqueducts.[60]

Commemorations

The very beginning of the aqueduct above ground at Attard

The aqueduct is featured on a ceiling at the Archbishop's Palace in Valletta.[61] At the National Library of Malta is a painting, next to Vilhena's Cabreo, which portrays some of Valleta's engineering water storage technique.[62]

The 400th anniversary of the aqueduct was commemorated on 21 April 2015. A ceremony was held in Valletta, with schoolchildren carrying water from City Gate to St. George's Square, where a re-enactment of the inauguration of the aqueduct was held.[63]

The anniversary was also commemorated by a silver coin minted by the Central Bank of Malta. The coin shows the aqueduct on the reverse and Grand Master Wignacourt on the obverse.[64]

MaltaPost also issued a set of two stamps on 21 April 2015. The stamps show Wignacourt Arch and the Wignacourt Water Tower in Fleur-de-Lys and Floriana respectively.[65]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 7478 canne from Djar Ħandul to the Grandmaster's Palace.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Water Supply of the Maltese Islands" (PDF). Archivum Melitense. Malta Historical and Scientific Society. VII (1): 6–7. 1922. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
  2. ↑ The historical guide to the island of Malta and its dependencies. p. 64.
  3. ↑ "Valletta – 1566". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010.
  4. 1 2 Spiteri, Stephen C. (2013). "In Defence of the Coast (I) – The Bastioned Towers". Arx – International Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (3): 42, 79. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Spiteri, Stephen C. "Water and Hospitaller Fortifications". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 Zammit, Vincent (1979). "Wignacourt's Aqueduct". Heritage: An encyclopedia of Maltese culture and civilization. Midsea Books Ltd. 2: 501–505.
  7. 1 2 3 Ellul, Michael (3 February 2007). "Wignacourt aqueduct". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "A Tour of the aqueduct". The Malta Independent. 9 April 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Floriana". romeartlover.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Fleur-de-Lys". Fleur-de-Lys Administrative Committee. 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 Muscat, Charles; Attard, Antoine (7 April 2015). "Feautre: 400 sena mill-inawgurazzjoni tal-akkwadott ta' Wignacourt". NETnews (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 16 December 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 "Round Tower (Water Tower)" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016.
  13. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798–1800" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 46–47. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Perspective View of the Wignacourt Aqueduct showing the proposed buildings". Office of Public Works. National Archives of Malta. 4 April 1907.
  15. ↑ "HSBC celebrates the significance of Wignacourt Aqueduct in 400th anniversary". The Malta Independent. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Aqueduct getting much needed restoration". Times of Malta. 29 June 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Aqueduct restoration ahead of schedule". Times of Malta. 9 February 2005. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "Other monuments in the minor towns". romeartlover.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "Lokali". In-Nazzjon (in Maltese). Media.link Communications. 27 December 2013. p. 32. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Wignacourt Aqueduct – Attard" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Wignacourt Aqueduct – Balzan" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Wignacourt Aqueduct – Birkirkara" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Wignacourt Aqueduct – Santa Venera" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016.
  24. ↑ "Green light for Fleur-de-Lys arch rebuilding". Times of Malta. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  25. ↑ "Councils agree name for rebuilt arch". Times of Malta. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Wignacourt Arch, known as Fleur-de-Lys Gate, rebuilt". TVM. 25 November 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "Celebrating the reconstruction of Wignacourt's Fleur-de-Lys Arch". Times of Malta. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Monumenti". Ħamrun Local Council (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 17 November 2014.
  29. ↑ Zammit, Vincent (1992). Il-Gran Mastri – Ġabra ta' Tagħrif dwar l-Istorja ta' Malta fi Żmienhom – L-Ewwel Volum 1530–1680 (in Maltese). Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. pp. 172–176.
  30. ↑ Guillaumier, Alfie. "Obelisk fil-Ħamrun". Ħamrun Local Council (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 22 May 2008.
  31. ↑ Scerri, John. "History". malta-canada.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015.
  32. ↑ "Wignacourt Water Tower". Floriana Local Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939.". Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
  34. 1 2 Restoration work
  35. ↑ "Restoration work on Floriana's Wignacourt Tower". TVM. 14 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Historic water tower restored". Times of Malta. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016.
  37. ↑ Tower
  38. ↑ water-trough
  39. 1 2 Calleja, Claudia (9 April 2011). "Wignacourt fountain to be moved... again". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012.
  40. ↑ Ameen, Juan (4 January 2010). "Valletta was built on agricultural land, archaeological evidence shows". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016.
  41. ↑ "Wignacourt fountain 'going to ruin'". Times of Malta. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012.
  42. ↑ Bugeja, Joe (1 March 2015). Origins and history of Argotti Gardens. Times of Malta. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  43. ↑ Tanti, Christine. St. George's Square. maltain360.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  44. ↑ "One World – Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (34)". Times of Malta. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Morana, Martin (2011). Bejn Kliem u Storja. Malta: Books Distributors Limited. p. 75. ISBN 978-99957-0137-6. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016.
  46. ↑ MacGill, Thomas (1839). A hand book, or guide, for strangers visiting Malta. Malta: Luigi Tonna. p. 68.
  47. ↑ "The sovereign palaces of Malta". Azure Services Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
  48. ↑ Rix, Juliet (2015). Malta and Gozo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 158.
  49. ↑ Bonello, Giovanni (2000). Art in Malta – Discoveries and Recoveries. Malta: Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. p. 17. ISBN 99909-959-7-4.
  50. ↑ Bonello, Giovanni (1992). Select Melitensia – Periodical and newspapaers articles 1987–1992. Melita Historica. p. 104-105.
  51. ↑ Spiteri Staines, Joanna (20 February 2011). "From Blood Rock to Barriera Wharf". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016.
  52. 1 2 3 Rix, Juliet (2015). Malta and Gozo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 228. ISBN 9781784770259.
  53. 1 2 "Protecting Neptune". Times of Malta. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
  54. ↑ "Malta, 1664, Valletta Harbour, Fontana Nuova, Schellinks, Drawing, Fine Art Print". Battlemaps.us. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016.
  55. ↑ Cassar Pullicino, Joseph (October–December 1949). "The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory" (PDF). Scientia. 15 (4): 161. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  56. ↑ Zahra, Lorenzo (1999). "Laqmijiet ta' Postijiet fil-Belt Valletta" (PDF). Melita Historica. 2 (23): 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  57. ↑ George (6 November 2011). Wignacourt Fountain, Valletta. Din l-Art Ħelwa. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  58. ↑ "'Wandering' Fountain pits 'restorers' vs 'relocators'". The Malta Independent. 9 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016.
  59. ↑ Guillaumier, Alfie (2005). Bliet u Rħula Maltin. Volume 2. Klabb Kotba Maltin. p. 948. ISBN 99932-39-40-2, ISBN 99932-39-41-0.
  60. ↑ "Vilhena Fountain in Floriana". Times of Malta. 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
  61. ↑ One World – The Archbishop's Palace. 7 March 2009. MEPA in Times of Malta. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  62. ↑ Grima, Noel. Underneath Valletta.
  63. ↑ "Ceremony to mark aquaduct's 400th anniversary". Times of Malta. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  64. ↑ "400th Anniversary of the Wignacourt Aqueduct". Central Bank of Malta. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015.
  65. ↑ "Philatelic Postage Stamp issue – Aqueducts" (PDF). MaltaPost. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2015.

Further reading

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