WIGNACOURT AQUEDUCT

Still along the road from the capital to Mdina, you'll no doubt notice the Wignacourt aqueduct. When Valletta was built in the ^16th century, it was realized that the drinking water supplied by the only usable spring (near the Grand Harbour) would soon be insufficient. So, in 1601, Grand Master Adolf de Wignacourt decided to bring water from the many springs in the hills around Mdina to Valletta. In 1610, the first project was an underground aqueduct as far as Attard, but the problems associated with the terrain soon proved insurmountable. Between Balzan and Hamrun, therefore, an overhead construction was preferred, consisting of a stone conduit mounted on arches, which can still be seen today. From Hamrun to the capital, water was once again transported underground. On August 21, 1615, Adolf de Wignacourt inaugurated the first fountain in Valletta. Another was also built in Floriana.