From Casoria, Acquedotto della Bolla is a nearby historic waterworks site in località Salice, in the municipality of Casalnuovo di Napoli. The Casa dell’Acqua marks the aqueduct’s origin; its layered history and distinctive masonry make it a local heritage stop to understand before you go.
- Location: Via Casa dell’Acqua, località Salice.
- Visitor details: confirm access arrangements with the municipality before setting out.
What is Acquedotto della Bolla?
Acquedotto della Bolla was a system for capturing, conveying and distributing water, with the Casa dell’Acqua at its origin. The Comune di Casalnuovo di Napoli says the site is mentioned in sixteenth-century documents and describes water arriving underground from springs and wells in Benincasa, Tamburiello and Masseria Preziosa.
At the Casa dell’Acqua, the flow divided. One branch entered the Volla canal and powered mills; the Formale branch continued underground to supply the city and became the Acquedotto della Bolla.
The municipal account reports that Chiarini considered the aqueduct Roman or possibly Greek in origin, an attribution rather than a confirmed date. An ISPRA technical publication says masonry in opus reticulatum found along some underground tunnels supports a Roman-period date for at least part of the system.
The building is a rectangular-plan tower with thick tuff walls supported by large arches. Its features include corner buttresses, sail vaults on the ground floor and a pattern of windows on the first floor. It stands at an elevation of 14.60 metres above sea level.
How do you find the landmark from the hotel area?
Use Via Casa dell’Acqua in località Salice as the destination, rather than assuming the site is in Casoria: the municipal listing places it in Casalnuovo di Napoli. From Hotel Clinton, the walk takes about 22 minutes, or the drive takes about 7 minutes.
The municipal listing gives no street number, so use the road name and locality when checking directions. You could pair the stop with a visit to the neighbourhood guide to Casoria for context on the surrounding area.
What should you check before visiting?
The municipal monument listing does not state opening days or hours, ticket prices, booking arrangements, guided visits, accessibility provisions or visitor restrictions. Check the official site before you go, and confirm current access information with the Comune di Casalnuovo di Napoli.
The Casa dell’Acqua was damaged in the 1581 earthquake and later underwent major consolidation works. It gradually lost its original function after construction of the new Neapolitan aqueduct, so treat the visit as a look at a historic structure rather than assuming the waterworks still operate.
What else can you pair with a stop here?
Acquedotto della Bolla can anchor a short heritage-focused outing, but the other places below are separate stops rather than parts of the aqueduct site. The CAM Casoria Contemporary Art Museum and Museo laboratorio della civiltà contadina “Masseria Luce” are other local landmarks. Check each venue’s own access details before planning a combined visit.
For practical planning around local destinations, how to get around Casoria is a useful companion to this stop. ISPRA says the aqueduct ran until the modern Serino aqueduct was built in 1885, a change that helps explain the site’s place in the area’s water-supply history.
FAQs
Is Acquedotto della Bolla in Casoria?
No. The municipal listing places it in località Salice, within the municipality of Casalnuovo di Napoli, rather than listing it as a Casoria site.
Does the aqueduct have a confirmed Roman origin?
Not conclusively. Chiarini’s Roman or possibly Greek attribution is reported by the municipality, while underground tunnel masonry supports a Roman-period date for at least part of the system.
Can you visit the Casa dell’Acqua inside?
The municipal monument listing does not specify visitor access or guided visits. Check with the Comune di Casalnuovo di Napoli before making plans.