Acqui Terme.............................................. The origins

Situated on the left hand side of the Bormida river is the town of Acqui Terme which boasts antique
origins. Acqui Terme was founded by the Statielli, a native population who belonged to the Ligurian
Ethnic group. The most important centre of this tribe was Caristum which was later conquered in the II century a.c. by the roman army, lead by Marco Popilio Lenate. Due to it’s favourable position and the considerable amount of thermal water in the town, Rome decided to create one of the most important spa centres, and for this reason the Aemilia Scauria was built which joined Tortona to Vado Ligure. The town flourished around the I century a.c. and was called “Aquae Statiellae”,

PIAZZA DELLA BOLLENTE CON PARTICOLARE DELLA FONTE

carrying the name of the first inhabitants and of the thermal water which derived from the ground. The most flourishing period was between the I and II century d.c. Testimonies in historical documentation by Plinio, Strabone, Seneca and Tacito, show the importance of the town and of it’s therapeutic water. A visible sign of the town’s ancient past can be seen by admiring the remains of the roman aqueduct, dating from the I century d.c, which cleverly extracted water from the nearby Erro river and fed not only public and private fountains, but most important the thermal swimming pools. From it’s original length of 10 km, unfortunately only 4 arches remain (6 metres by 15), and some columns which are visible from the main road which leads to Sassello. For more than 2000 years the thermal establishments have represented the fundamental basis for the town, and during roman times there existed at least two. The first and probably the most important establishment was found in Piazza della Bollente, when during excavations carried out under the Greek style temple designed by the Architect Cerruti (inaugurated in 1879), a mosaic pavement bearing an inscription was discovered (visible under the porticos of Via Saracco), and marble chairs which are preserved in the Archaeological Museum. The second establishment consisted of a therapeutic swimming pool, discovered at the beginning of Corso Bagni, which will open to the public in the year 2002. Another discovery was made near the square where the Town Hall is situated: a water system destined for public use, consisting of a jet fountain adjoining a rectangular bath which served as a drinking trough. With the decline of the Roman Empire, other spa centres in Italy started to disappear, but for Acque Statiellae, even though there were many problems throughout the years, fortunately they were not enough to ruin it’s existence. The town throughout the centuries became an ever growing important political and economical centre up until the XX century, when after the II World War, went through a decadence period which transformed into a total disinterestedness, and was enough to make it crumble. This tendency has changed only during the last decade. In-fact, the town has and is undergoing an important development campaign, especially throughout the historical centre, which today, together with the potential of the spa centres, the wine and gastronomy resources and the beautiful countryside, are valid reasons to attract a certain quality of tourism.

PIAZZA ITALIA, FONTANA DELLE NINFEE

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