Le torri d'acqua, urbane e rurali del Palermitano. The water towers, urban and rural of Palermo. (original) (raw)

2020, Studi in onore di Stefano Vassallo

The study outlines the history of water supply and management in Palermo, from antiquity to the end of the 19th century, when the drinking water distribution system through the "water towers" fell into disuse. ". Commonly called "castelletti or turrets", these artefacts were widespread in urban areas, in the villages and in the countryside of Palermo, until the early twentieth century when it took over a new and innovative water supply and distribution system, known as the Scillato Aqueduct. In the second part, with a mention of the hydrogeological conditions of the western plain of Palermo and the historical springs of Gabriele, the structure and hydraulic functioning of the water towers are examined, whose differences and uses have allowed them to be distinguished in two different architectures and typologies, urbans and rurals, in relation to their irrigation and drinking use, unlike what has been commonly believed up to now. Keywords: water towers, castelletti, torrette, incatusati, urna, giarra