A nasone (pluralnasoni), also called a fontanella (pluralfontanelle, lit. "little fountains"), is a type of drinking fountain found in Rome, Italy. Literally meaning "large nose", they got their name from their characteristic design first introduced in the 1870s. There are approximately 2,500–2,800 nasoni in Rome, supplying people with free drinking water.
Most nasoni share a design in the shape of a column. The form of the water spout varies but most nasoni have a metal spout protruding at mid-height which looks like a nose and gives the fountains their name "large noses".[1][2] Other designs include wolf-heads, dragons and lions.[3] Most are made of simple stone, although in the 1920s and 1930s nasoni were made of travertine marble, some of which remain today, mostly in parks and the Foro Italico area.[3]
The water coming from the nasoni is the same supplied to the city's households and thus safe for drinking. It is continuously running from the fountain through a hole at the bottom of the spout. [4] Additionally, most nasoni have a hole located at the top of the spout, allowing thirsty people to drink from the fountain more easily by blocking the bottom hole and forcing the water upwards.[3]
Historyedit
Léon Bonnat, Roman Girl drinking at a Fountain (1875)
The city of Rome began installing nasoni in the 1870s to provide a water supply for citizens. The exact year is not known: sources note both 1872[5] and 1874[6] as the first time a nasone was installed. The fountains' design went unchanged for decades. At the peak of their popularity, there were approximately 5,000 nasoni in Rome.[5] While their number has dwindled as domestic water connections have become commonplace, there are still between 2,500 and 2,800 nasoni in greater Rome today, one tenth of them in the historical center.[7]
Acea, the company responsible for maintaining the city's water supply, installed ten casa dell'acqua (lit. "house of the water") kiosks in 2015. Described as "hi-tech nasoni", these provide free tap and sparkling water as well as information for tourists and a place to recharge mobile devices.[8]
Benefitsedit
Aside from the social-welfare benefits of supplying drinkable water to citizens (especially those without their own access), nasoni serve as needed ventilation valves for the Roman water-supply system.[6] In addition, constantly flowing water keeps the water in the pipes from stagnating, which might otherwise allow bacteria to proliferate. While this has been criticized by some as a waste of drinking water, only 1% of the water is lost because of the nasoni running continuously, compared to nearly 50% of water lost due to old and leaky pipes.[6] According to estimates, operating a nasone costs the city of Rome approximately 3–5 Euro per day, depending on the strength of the water flow.[7]
Shut-offsedit
In July 2017, Acea began to shut off some nasoni because drought had diminished the nearby Lake Bracciano, the city's main water reserve.[9][10] The move was criticized by many,[by whom?] citing concerns that the decision will be hurtful to Rome's homeless population and local animals, both of which rely on fresh water from these fountains.[7]
Variantsedit
Nasone with two animal-heads as spouts on the square before Sant'Eustachio
Fontana Delle Tre Cannelle (lit. "fountain of the three spouts") in Via Della Cordonata
^Di Somma, Andrea; Ferrari, Valentina; Miranda, Michaelangelo; Pechar, Saverio Werther; Zonetti, Fabio. "Scenari neogeografici per i 'nasoni' della periferia romana" (PDF). Asita 2014 (in Italian).
^ abcBennett, Dianne; Graebner, William (2009). Rome the Second Time: 15 Itineraries That Don't Go to the Coliseum. Curious Traveler Press. pp. 116–117. ISBN9780615279985.
^"The Nasoni: Rome's Ubiquitous Public Fountains". Life In Italy. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
^ abAngelakis, Andreas N.; Mays, Larry W.; Koutsoyiannis, Demetris; Mamassis, Nikos (2012). Evolution of Water Supply Through the Millennia. IWA Publishing. p. 460. ISBN9781843395409.
^ abcMauro, Fabrizio Di (2009). I nasoni di Roma: e le altre fontanelle (in Italian). Editrice Innocenti. p. 9. ISBN9788889818657.
^ abcLyman, Eric J. (2017-07-14). . Xinhua. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
^"Rome installs hi-tech free water dispensers". Wanted in Rome. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
nasone, nasone, plural, nasoni, also, called, fontanella, plural, fontanelle, little, fountains, type, drinking, fountain, found, rome, italy, literally, meaning, large, nose, they, their, name, from, their, characteristic, design, first, introduced, 1870s, th. A nasone plural nasoni also called a fontanella plural fontanelle lit little fountains is a type of drinking fountain found in Rome Italy Literally meaning large nose they got their name from their characteristic design first introduced in the 1870s There are approximately 2 500 2 800 nasoni in Rome supplying people with free drinking water NasoneFountainA nasone from the 1930sLocationAnnia Faustina 38 Rome Italy Contents 1 Design 2 History 3 Benefits 4 Shut offs 5 Variants 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign edit nbsp Schematics of a typical nasone Most nasoni share a design in the shape of a column The form of the water spout varies but most nasoni have a metal spout protruding at mid height which looks like a nose and gives the fountains their name large noses 1 2 Other designs include wolf heads dragons and lions 3 Most are made of simple stone although in the 1920s and 1930s nasoni were made of travertine marble some of which remain today mostly in parks and the Foro Italico area 3 The water coming from the nasoni is the same supplied to the city s households and thus safe for drinking It is continuously running from the fountain through a hole at the bottom of the spout 4 Additionally most nasoni have a hole located at the top of the spout allowing thirsty people to drink from the fountain more easily by blocking the bottom hole and forcing the water upwards 3 History edit nbsp Leon Bonnat Roman Girl drinking at a Fountain 1875 The city of Rome began installing nasoni in the 1870s to provide a water supply for citizens The exact year is not known sources note both 1872 5 and 1874 6 as the first time a nasone was installed The fountains design went unchanged for decades At the peak of their popularity there were approximately 5 000 nasoni in Rome 5 While their number has dwindled as domestic water connections have become commonplace there are still between 2 500 and 2 800 nasoni in greater Rome today one tenth of them in the historical center 7 Acea the company responsible for maintaining the city s water supply installed ten casa dell acqua lit house of the water kiosks in 2015 Described as hi tech nasoni these provide free tap and sparkling water as well as information for tourists and a place to recharge mobile devices 8 Benefits editAside from the social welfare benefits of supplying drinkable water to citizens especially those without their own access nasoni serve as needed ventilation valves for the Roman water supply system 6 In addition constantly flowing water keeps the water in the pipes from stagnating which might otherwise allow bacteria to proliferate While this has been criticized by some as a waste of drinking water only 1 of the water is lost because of the nasoni running continuously compared to nearly 50 of water lost due to old and leaky pipes 6 According to estimates operating a nasone costs the city of Rome approximately 3 5 Euro per day depending on the strength of the water flow 7 Shut offs editIn July 2017 Acea began to shut off some nasoni because drought had diminished the nearby Lake Bracciano the city s main water reserve 9 10 The move was criticized by many by whom citing concerns that the decision will be hurtful to Rome s homeless population and local animals both of which rely on fresh water from these fountains 7 Variants edit nbsp Nasone with two animal heads as spouts on the square before Sant Eustachio nbsp Fontana Delle Tre Cannelle lit fountain of the three spouts in Via Della Cordonata nbsp Square nasone in Parco Caduti di MarcinelleSee also edit nbsp Drink portal List of fountains in RomeReferences edit As Drought Parches Italy Rome Turns Off Historic Drinking Fountains KALW 2017 07 10 Retrieved 2017 08 04 Di Somma Andrea Ferrari Valentina Miranda Michaelangelo Pechar Saverio Werther Zonetti Fabio Scenari neogeografici per i nasoni della periferia romana PDF Asita 2014 in Italian a b c Bennett Dianne Graebner William 2009 Rome the Second Time 15 Itineraries That Don t Go to the Coliseum Curious Traveler Press pp 116 117 ISBN 9780615279985 The Nasoni Rome s Ubiquitous Public Fountains Life In Italy Retrieved 2017 08 04 a b Angelakis Andreas N Mays Larry W Koutsoyiannis Demetris Mamassis Nikos 2012 Evolution of Water Supply Through the Millennia IWA Publishing p 460 ISBN 9781843395409 a b c Mauro Fabrizio Di 2009 I nasoni di Roma e le altre fontanelle in Italian Editrice Innocenti p 9 ISBN 9788889818657 a b c Lyman Eric J 2017 07 14 News Analysis Rome faces criticism as trying to save water by closing big nose fountains Xinhua Archived from the original on August 8 2017 Retrieved 2017 08 04 Rome installs hi tech free water dispensers Wanted in Rome 2015 09 11 Retrieved 2017 08 04 Drought threatens Rome s eternal drinking fountains Daily Sabah 2017 07 07 Retrieved 2017 08 04 Ulrich Stefan 2017 08 03 Rom geht das Wasser aus wegen undichter Leitungen Suddeutsche Zeitung in German Retrieved 2017 08 04 External links editLucentini M 31 December 2012 The Rome Guide Step by Step through History s Greatest City Interlink ISBN 9781623710088 The Enchanting Nasoni Romani Rome s Timeless Fountains transferinrome cab 2023 05 08 nbsp Media related to Nasoni Rome at Wikimedia Commons Preceded byFontana del Moro Landmarks of RomeNasone Succeeded byFontana della Navicella Rome Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nasone amp oldid 1217102376, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
