The cistern-system of early modern Venice: technology, politics and culture in a hydraulic society

Abstract At a time when European cities depended on three sources of fresh water for their domestic and industrial needs—rivers, spring-fed aqueducts groundwater wells—early modern Venice added fourth possibility: dense network cisterns capturing, filtering storing rainwater. was not unique in relying rainwater cisterns; but nowhere Italy (indeed Europe) the approach so systematic widespread, city concerned populous, technology sophisticated management carefully regulated as lagoon city. To explore Venice’s cistern-system, range primary (medical treatises, travellers’ accounts, archival records) contributions architectural, medical social historians, archaeologists are analysed. The article examines system’s functioning management, including role city’s acquaroli or watermen; maintenance freshwater quality throughout city, context broader sanitation measures; place “wells” daily life Venice. As means teasing out myriad links between nature, society early Italy, concludes with brief comparison politics supply very different urban realities (republican) Venice, (viceregal) Naples (papal) Rome.