Italy celebrates National Museum Week this week, and has chosen this day to dedicate to the theme of water.

Water was fundamental to the development of every part of the civilization of Italy : an object of symbolism, central to mythology, to domestic adornment..

to ritual practices as well as a practical and precious necessity.

Water as an artistic representation is a theme often seen in Italian museums.  One of the most moving water images comes from Paestum, at the superb Archeological Museum.   The fresco of the Diver was found on the ceiling of the tomb of that same name, and dates from around 500 to 475 BC. It is unique in its imagery, a lone diver leaping into a pool of water, probably the work of a Greek artist.

Italy is of course surrounded by water. It has 808 islands, of which 77 are inhabited.

Only four of its 20 regions do not have a coastline.

Including the islands, it has 7900 km (4900 miles) of water lapping up against its shores.

To channel water, the Romans achieved an exceptionally high degree of sophistication in the art and craft of building aqueducts.

The first aqueduct in Rome was constructed in 312 BC, supplying water for a fountain at the livestock market. With eleven aqueducts by the third century AD, the city supported an opulent water economy that served over a million people; the majority of the water was used for the numerous public baths in the city. Following this example, towns and cities all over the Roman Empire invested in aqueducts as civic pride and public works projects.

Most were dependable and long-lasting; some are still in use.

In every part of Italy, and in every Plan we write, we celebrate water : we lead you to canals for gondola lessons..

and riversides for arcadian meals.

We organize tours of historic fountains…

We plan aqueduct walks with archeology and history guides who have closely studied the history of Roman water.

In your Plans we include special gardens where water has a primary focus.

We arrange private, environmentally-themed boat tours on special lakes.

And we instruct you on how to refuse bottled water in restaurants : nearly everywhere, tap water is at least as good.

We take you to places of extraordinary beauty and where a river is of special interest.

Four hundred fifty-eight Italian beaches won the 2023 Blue Star environmental prize, representing 11% of the awards given globally.

You have visited many of these in your Insider’s Italy Travel Plans.

This is not surprising, as the swimming season in southern Italy normally lasts well into November.

Come this year and join us on the water, by the water, in the water.

Come and join us in celebrating, today and every day, Italy’s water.

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