Fountains of Rome / Part 1: Acqua Vergine Aqueduct: Audio Guide to the Fountains of Rome and Their Remarkable History and Artistry

At every turn in Rome, it seems, there is a beautiful fountain! Some are monumental and glorious, some are charmingly subtle - but all are delightful and worth a closer look. The variety is boundless... and that's what makes a tour of the fountains of Rome so much fun! Two thousand years ago, hundreds of magnificent fountains enhanced life in Rome. But in the year 537, the Goths destroyed the aqueducts of the Roman Empire that had been bringing water to the city for six centuries... and for the next 900 years, Romans' primary source of water was the muddy, polluted Tiber. Rome struggled to survive. Happily, the Eternal City rose again. The remains of ancient aqueducts were restored in the 15th and 16th centuries, and fresh water flowed into the city once more. How amazing to realize that that Renaissance system is still very much in use today!

Jane's Smart Art Guide to the Fountains of Rome concentrates primarily on the Renaissance and Baroque fountains that refresh the historic heart of the city. Jane, the narrator, will lead you through the extraordinary history of Rome's water supply and the delightful fountains - large and small, plain and fancy - that grace the city. You'll hear about who were the great fountain designers, what constraints they had to deal with, and how they learned to make water behave in different ways. You'll hear about the two basic design components found in every fountain, and why some fountains display water jetting vertically while others are sunk below grade. You'll hear about the battles waged between powerful families, bureaucrats, and artists; and about construction delays, design changes, and why some fountains were actually moved... not once, but twice! In Part 1: The Fountains of the Acqua Vergine Aqueduct, Jane focuses on the history and artistry of the first Renaissance aqueduct and the fountains that are fed by it. This guide is the first of three parts.