Carbognano, Fontana Vecchia – Old Fountain

THE HISTORY

The oldest fountain in the village of Carbognano was probably created with the birth of the village itself. Placed in the most upstream point, in the past it could serve all the daily needs. Through the sources we find mentioned the fountain Vecchia since the beginning of the XVI century. The same Communal councils often report necessary interventions for the cleaning of the fountain and other interventions. Particular is the reference given by one of the councils, in which it is reported that all the water was given to Giovan Vincenzo Diomedi, from which was born the necessity to make another fountain: ““Necessità di fare un’altro fontanile. Si propone che essendo stata data a Gio. Vincentio (Diomede) tutta l’acqua nel fontanile della fontana vecchia per più convadita  bisognerà fare un’altro fontanile li appresso però conseglierete se si ha da fare et in che modo”. (ASCC, SAR 2/2, Acts of Deliberation – Books of Councils, April 25, 1589. c. 42v. c. 43r. ). The other source was no longer realized and the water was restored to flow into the fountain. Its use continued therefore as usual.

The attention and care for the Old fountain continued over time as still demonstrated in the Municipal Council of September 1617: “Congregato et Coadunato generali Consiglio … 2° Si  fa sapere qualmente, l’Illustrissimo Potestà di ordine di Sua Eccelleenza Illustrissima (Francesco Coilonna), ha precettato li suddetti Priori sotto la pena di scudi cento per uno fra un mese habbino accomodatto et fatto li scalini alla fonte della piazza, accomodato la strada della Mandra et tirato l’acqua al suo solito alla fontana vecchia”. (ASCC, SAR 2/8, Acts of Deliberation – Council Books, September 21, 1617, cc.177v.  178r. ). Its present appearance is probably due to the various works on the fountains undertaken between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century.

Even in recent times the Old Fountain, which has always given its name both to the street and to the district, has continued to provide water for the people.

DESCRIPTION

The fountain of wall type is formed by a rectangular basin of medium size.  The basin is composed of peperino slabs while the shelf of the border is made of thin travertine slabs.

On the front elevation of the wall of the basin is placed in the center a slab of travertine, where shy faces the modern ruby. On the slab remains trace of different epigraphs little legible. on the left of the tap barely legible “SEN” . On the right of greater dimensions and more in evidence: “A. XVII”.

The wall of the fountain is contained in a trapezoidal shape defined by a peperino border. Inside the trapezoidal shape, terracotta bricks of the same workmanship as those used in the Nova fountain enclose the travertine slab.

ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

V. ARAMINI, Sicut Archivium inventum fuit”. The Ecclesiastical Archives of Carbognano (Viterbo). Nuovo ordinamento ed inventariazione infomatizzata. Thesis, Faculty of the University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Academic Year 2005/2006.

R. CECCARELLI – O. TARTARINI, Carbognano, yesterday, today and tomorrow. 1940.

V. D’ARCANGELI, Carbognano in Tuscia Viterbese. Rome 1968.

R. INNOCENTI, Carbognano. Viterbo 2001.

F. MARTINELLI, Carbognano illustrated by Mr. Fioravante Martinelli. Rome, 1694.

G. SILVESTRELLI, Cities and castles and lands of the Roman region. Rome, 1940.

Unpublished Sources

Historical Archives of Carbognano, Ancient Regime Series =.  ASCC, SAR 2/2, Atti Deliberativi – Libri dei Consigli, April 25, 1589. c. 42v. c. 43r.; , 2/8, September 21, 1617, cc.177v.  178r.