Press Release

The typical Roman fountain is 150 years old. The map geolocated by the Acea Waidy Wow app, created by the Group

Along the Via Sacra, in the stretch that leads to the Colosseum and one of the most important archaeological areas in the world, three cast iron nasoni with the Acea Group logo were inaugurated today. Present at the event were the Councilor for Public Works of Rome Capital Ornella Segnalini, the president of the first municipality Lorenza Bonaccorsi, the director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum Alfonsina Russo and the president of the Acea Group Barbara Marinali.

The inauguration takes place on the 150th anniversary of the installation of the first nasone, which took place on the initiative of the mayor of Rome, Luigi Pianciani, in 1874. Immediately after the Unification of Italy, the distribution of water on the streets of the Capital became widespread thanks to the creation of a dense network of these fountains, for public and free use, built in cast iron with the characteristic cylindrical shape and curved mouth.

Currently there are 2,800 nasoni in Rome and they have been geolocated by an app created by the Group, Acea Waidy Wow, which allows citizens, tourists and sportsmen to identify the nearest water point where they can quench their thirst and also control their level of hydration. The project, which represents the hi-tech evolution of the old fountains, has mapped the entire network of the Capital and 150,000 water points throughout the national territory.

During these 150 years, the nasoni, in addition to representing the deep link between the city and water, have become among the most popular symbols of the capital and have entered the history of cinema, taken up in many films of the neorealist field, such as "Bicycles Thieves" by Vittorio De Sica and "We All Loved Each Other So Much" by Ettore Scola.

“The three nasoni inaugurated today - said Barbara Marinali, president of the Acea Group - are a symbol of identity and tradition for our city but also an important testimony of our link with water and the commitment of the Acea Group both in the protection of water resources and in the promotion of sustainability, key factors to improve the quality of life of citizens".

“The installation of the nasoni – commented the Councilor for Public Works of Rome Capital Ornella Segnalini - has first of all a symbolic value because it is 150 years since the construction of the first one in 1874. And it is also very important for other reasons. First of all to eliminate plastic and irregular sales situations. Another, fundamental aspect, is to give water to everyone, not only to tourists, but also to all people who are thirsty, because the fountains and the nasoni serve above all for this. Finally, these three new nasoni, along with the other 2,800 scattered around the city, help feed and clean our sewers. They really are free water, water for everyone."

“Finally, our visitors will have the opportunity to freely access additional sources of public water, which is very important especially in the warmer months," said Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park. The installation of the nasoni also significantly reduces the consumption of plastic bottles and completes an initiative undertaken by the Park in 2019, adding to the 10 drinking water fountains already present between the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill".