Ancient Springs

The Ancient Sources complex is composed of two buildings: the first artefact, the oldest dating back to its current form at the end of the century. XVIII, it consists of a brick vault that serves both as a containment for the land behind it and as protection for the fountain, which is framed by an architectural decoration composed of exposed brick pilasters. This element, present since the beginning of the century, was initially finished with a plaster painted with the colours of red and yellow composed to draw a motif of vertical and horizontal lines, created during a restoration that took place between ‘800 and ‘900. Today, having lost this finish, the construction presents itself with exposed masonry.
The tank used by the population as a washhouse was later added to this element, as well as for water supply for non-potable purposes. The basins were originally covered by a canopy supported by beams resting on masonry pillars.In the early ’70s of the last century the canopy was replaced by an arched structure that supports the precast reinforced concrete beams, slabs and tiles. This last intervention was carried out with materials inappropriate to the ancient artefact to which it was placed.
Since their inception, the Ancient Springs have been a place of interest to the community, initially for its function as a water supply and as a washhouse. Subsequently, having lost this role, the structure survived as a source of water for non-potable uses: it is still used for irrigation of the surrounding gardens and fields and therefore continues to maintain its usefulness for collective life. But above all, it constitutes for the community an important historical testimony to the social life of times gone by and is linked to the memory of the older inhabitants, thus representing one of the cultural elements of the area’s identity.
Furthermore, as a demonstration of the population’s interest in this object, it has been the subject of various cleanup campaigns by volunteers.