Bottini of Siena
The underground canal system of the Bottini (singular Bottino ) consists of several waterways which supply the wells within the city walls of Siena and in their vicinity, bringing water from sources located several miles away.
This complex underground system was not only used to supply the city with drinking water, but also for the operation of many water-dependent medieval artisan industries (like dyers and leather workers), for cleaning and fire prevention activities, irrigation and agriculture, which would otherwise have been impossible in a city like Siena, located kilometers away from the nearest watercourse.
[4][5][6] The Bottino maestro di Fonte Gaia is supplied by three main tributaries from Colombaio (also del Castagno, with 5.75 km (3.6 mi) of maximum distance from Fonte Gaia), Michele a Quarto (also San Dalmazio) and Uopini, which is close to the Fontebecci fountain.
The entire route has a constant incline of 1 ‰ (1 m of difference in height over 1 km length) and transports 2.7 litres (0.71 US gal) per second.
The reason for the construction of the aqueduct system in the Middle Ages was mainly due to the shortage of water in the city of Siena, which experienced a period of strong population growth starting from the 11th century.
In 1343 the booty reached Fontebecci and an attempt was made to connect it to the water of the river Staggia, which is the real Quercegrossa.
Since 1344, for the most difficult parts of the excavations, were hired professional miners from Massa Marittima and Montieri called Guerchi that received higher wages than the inexperienced workers Sienese.
The first stones of Fonte Gaia were laid in April 1343, the fountain was consecrated in 1346 (with the water coming from Fontebecci) and then redesigned from 1409 to 1419 by Jacopo della Quercia.
In September of the same year Pietro Forteguerri also received permission to draw water from the fountain in Via del Casato to his house.
The aim of allowing the creation of private connections was to reduce illegal discharges, the immense extent of which was officially denounced as early as 1446.
The dado, also called forellino, was a small hole in the center of a plate that blocked the junction channel and corresponded to about 400 L (110 US gal) of water in 24 hours.
In July 1825, Giovanni Gani created a connection between the two main canals at an intersection near the Palazzo dei Diavioli.
[16][17] At the end of the 19th century, the water supply via the Bottini was no longer considered to be sufficient in quantitative and hygienic terms.
