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Siena’s underground water-supply system: the bottini

The bottini are the underground water-conveyance system used in Siena until a few decades ago and still in partial use today. Construction began in the thirteenth century. The network was almost complete by the end of the fourteenth century, with about 25 km of underground tunnels. In the fifteenth century, engineers endeavored to increase the supply of water to the public fountains - the focal point of Siena's economic and social system from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Once the bottini had been built, constant maintenance was needed to keep them in working order. This colossal task was assigned to a contractor known as Operaio. Francesco di Giorgio was appointed to the post in 1469 and again in 1492.

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