The Rocca and the water
Fontanellato and the water are closely linked. The village derives its name from "Fontana lata"
Outer fortress (15th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Fontanellato is born and develops thanks to water
A spring (21st Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Fontanellato derives its name from “Fontana Lata” for the great quantity of springs that are present on the area
A spring (21st Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
View from the outer northeast corner (15th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The Rocca was for years defended by a moat, that is still full of water
The cleaning of the moat (20th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The moat, repeatedly emptied and cleaned, contributes to the stability of the castle
Still-life with fish (17th Century) by Felice BoselliRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
A lot of species of edible fishes lived in the water of the moat; the family Sanvitale was greedy for them.
The first fishing competition around the castle (20th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Nowadays unedible carps swim in the water. They were "suitable" to animate the fishing competitions that were held along the perimeter of the fortress
The water flows into the moat (21st Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The moat is now supplied by the source called “Serena”, that crosses the historical center
Ancient map of the three main canalsRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The water was organized in a dense net of communication and trade channels
Painting by Giuseppe Alinovi (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
and for civil use or as an animal drinking through inside the village, too..
The wash-house (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
… to wash clothes…
Matteotti SquareRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
… to quench one’s thirst even today…
The fountain in the square called "Gazzera" (20th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The lock in a canal (21st Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
For this reason a lot of importance has always had the water protection
Still-life with fish (17th Century) by Felice BoselliRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Passage of an act in 1605, laid down by the Count Alfonso Sanvitale
The fish-pool (15th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The water gushes in the hanging garden of the Rocca, too
The vault- General view (16th Century) by Francesco Mazzola, ParmigianinoRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
And the goddess Diana, too, came and bathed in a… “fontanellatese” fountain
