The Waters of Rome: A new book by Katherine Rinne

Between 1560 and 1630, in a spectacular burst of urban renewal activity, Rome’s religious and civil authorities sponsored the construction of aqueducts, private and public fountains for drinking, washing, and industry, and the magnificent ceremonial fountains that are Rome’s glory. Urban designer and historian Katherine Rinne presents a unified vision of Rome during the baroque period that links improvements to public and private water systems with political, religious, and social change. Tying together the technological, sociopolitical, and artistic questions that faced the designers during an age of turmoil, Rinne shows how these public works projects transformed Rome through innovative engineering and strategic urban planning.