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Water Focus of New Siena Museum
Hilltop Tuscan City has 25km Hidden Waterway Network
From ANSA.IT
A museum exploring the history and uses of Siena's hidden underground waterways is opening in this Tuscan hill town on Wednesday. The Museo dell'Acqua, or Museum of Water, will provide visitors with a detailed overview of the 25-kilometre water network, which developed over the course of centuries. ''The city has a new exhibition space that showcases the history of Siena and its territories, helping bring them to life,'' said Siena Urban Planning Councillor Fabio Minuti.
According to Minuti, the new museum aims to combine practical structural information with side stories about how the network shaped the lives of Siena's residents. ''The engineering genius behind the invention and construction of these waterways is examined in detail. But the exhibition also recounts the history and memories of these places, part of the everyday life of Siena's citizens and tourists. ''In this sense, the museum seeks to make its visitors active participants in the process, providing scientific rigour as well as satisfaction and stimuli for their curiosity and imagination''. Work on the underwater network is thought to have begun in the 11th century. At the time, Siena's hilltop location gave it an excellent defensive advantage but meant it was miles from the nearest river and therefore lacked a ready water supply. Without sufficient water, Siena was unable to expand, so the city authorities started work on the first water canals by digging deep into the ground and tapping hidden streams and underground rivulets. Water from these new aqueducts was funnelled into massive basins and fountains located around the city and outside its walls.
Lifestyle, Arts and Entertainment - b0.01.26.18.37
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