Wignacourt Aqueduct | |
|---|---|
 Part of the aqueduct at Birkirkara | |
| Coordinates | 35°53′35″N 14°27′39″E / 35.89306°N 14.46083°E |
| Begins | Dingli and Rabat |
| Ends | Valletta |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | c. 26.5 km (29,000 yd)[a] |
| Capacity | 1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) daily |
| History | |
| Construction start | 19 October 1596 (first attempt) 9 January 1610 (second attempt) |
| Opened | 21 April 1615 |
| Closed | 20th century |
| Location | |
 | |
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 carried water through underground pipes and over arched viaducts across 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, Hamrun and Floriana, and several fountains in Floriana and Valletta.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
archivummelitensewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Borzesi, Giuseppe Pericciuoli (26 June 2018). "The historical guide to the island of Malta and its dependencies". Government Press – via Google Books.
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