Gli acquedotti romani di Taormina

The paper concerns the study and reconstruction of the Roman aqueducts of Taormina, recognized and documented during archaeological surveys carried out from 2010. The research, aimed at reconstructing the water supplying strategies of the ancient city, allowed for the identification of three aqueducts, named A, B and C, which were probably built between the 1st and 2nd century ad. They consist of specus built in opus caementicium and characterised by coatings in cocciopesto of different thickness and ceilings with different shape ; moreover, in the second phase of aqueduct A, a terracotta pipe was housed inside the specus. Aqueducts A and B, about 2 km long, starting from springs located respectively in the Petralia area and the initial stretch of the Sant'Antonio stream. They reached the western and eastern sectors of the urban area of Tauromenium passing respectively to the west and to the east of Puretta and Castello mountains. Aqueduct C had a considerable route about 16 km long, characterised by some bridges in opus testaceum. It started from springs located at the south-western slope of Galfa mountain and two long stretches of its route were recognized, one about 3,5 km long in the territory of Mongiuffi Melia, the other about 3,7 km long, more close to Taormina, where it run nearby aqueduct B but at higher altitude.