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The Wignacourt Aqueduct (( マルタ語:L-Akwedott ta' Wignacourt)) is a 17th-century aqueduct in Malta, running through Attard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Fleur-de-Lys and Santa Venera. This was built by the Order of Saint John from 1610 to carry water from Dingli and Rabat to Valletta. The Aqueduct was inaugurated on 21 April 1615 and it remained in use until the 20th century. It is named after Alof de Wignacourt, the Grand Master who financed its building. ==History== In 1566, the capital city of Valletta was founded on the Sciberras Peninsula, which did not have a good water supply. Water had to be carted from springs to the city, but this became difficult by the end of the 16th century, when the city had become the largest settlement in Malta.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/valletta-1566.html )〕 Grand Master Martin Garzez made the first attempt to carry water from Dingli and Rabat to the capital in 1596, but the plans did not materialize due to technical problems and financial reasons. Eventually, Bontadino de Bontadini designed a good plan for the watercourse, with water being carried through underwater pipes, and over stone arches when there were depressions in the ground. The project was begun in 1610, and was partially financed by Alof de Wignacourt, who had succeeded Garzez as Grand Master. 600 Maltese workers were employed in the construction of the aqueduct, which took five years to build. It was inaugurated on 21 April 1615. The aqueduct was improved by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc in the late 18th century.〔 On 4 September 1798, in the early stages of the Maltese uprising against the French, insurgents ambushed French soldiers near the aqueduct at Mrieħel, in the limits of Birkirkara. Between 2004 and 2005, the aqueduct's surviving arches were restored and a lighting system was installed, at a total cost of Lm 140,000. Some of the arches are in need of restoration once again, mainly due to pollution since a major road is now located along the aqueduct.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://romeartlover.tripod.com/Malta13.html )〕 Various sections of the aqueduct are listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Wignacourt Aqueduct」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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