Title: From the Middle Ages to 19th century: a journey into the water system of Palermo (Italy)

Authors: Giusy Lofrano; Maurizio Carotenuto; Pietro Todaro; Roberta Maffettone; Silvia Sammataro; Ioannis K. Kalavrouziotis

Addresses: Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy ' Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy ' UNESCO IHP (Programme Hydrologique International), 1 rue Miollis – 75015 Paris, France ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy ' Italian Alpine Club (CAI), Sezione della Conca d'Oro di Palermo, via Nicolò Garzilli, 59 – 90141 Palermo, Italy ' School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Aristotelous 18, 26 335, Patras, Greece

Abstract: The present investigation aims at examining the underground environment of Palermo city and its wide surrounding plain in relation to the human hydraulic structures and to their influence on the cultural, social and economic life of the city. The amazing craftsmanship, skilfulness and dexterity of the ancients is reflected in the complex underground hydraulic structures with the intent to control and manage effectively the underground water sources to the benefit of the ancient society, in spite of the limited available technological means. Structures such as qants, Scirocco chambers and miqweh which made available the water to the public, have influenced significantly the ecological environment, the civilisation of the area and the economic and social progress of the city of Palermo.

Keywords: ecology; history; geomorphology; Palermo; qanāt; ingruttati; pozzi a ripiano; Middle Ages; water systems; Italy; hydraulic structures; cultural life; economic life; social life; underground structures; underground water; Scirocco chambers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2015.071848

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2015 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.296 - 305

Received: 09 Jul 2014
Accepted: 12 Oct 2014
Published online: 21 Sep 2015 *

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