Monuments
Minturno
The Roman Aqueduct
At Archi Virilassi in Minturno, 120 arches of the Roman aqueduct, built around the middle of the first century AD, are preserved.
From the spring in the area of Capodacqua (Spigno Saturnia), it ran for 11 km to the town of Minturnae through the Porta Gemina. It was built in opus coementicium with opus reticulatum facing and ashlars of tuff and limestone, with arches up to 2.5 metres high.
The pillars were reinforced by a layer of bricks, while the spaces between the line of the arches and the specus (i.e. the actual duct) were decorated with geometric motifs, lozenges, diagonal and parallel lines in two colours. The decorations are more accurate near the town of Minturnae and near the suburban villas. In some places, a thick layer of plaster is still preserved.
Probably around 580 A.D. the aqueduct was cut off by the Goths, forcing the inhabitants of Minturnae to abandon the town and take refuge on the nearby hill where the village of Traetto, today’s historic centre of Minturno, was to be built.
Information
Comune di Minturno, Via Principe di Piemonte 9 – 04026 Minturno (Lt)
+39 0771 6608208
minturno@legalmail.it
http://www.comune.minturno.lt.it/
Always open
