Fontanino dell'Acqua Marcia

The Fontanino dell'Acqua Marcia is a small neoclassical structure marking a cold sulphurous spring in Acqui Terme's historic thermal district. Built in 1847, it commemorates a source discovered in the eighteenth century.

Why it matters

The spring represents a different element of Acqui Terme's thermal history from the hot water of the Bollente. Although cooler, the Acqua Marcia was valued for its sulphurous properties and was used in the town's historic bathing establishment.

What to notice

The 1847 structure takes the form of a small classical temple. It stands in the Antiche Terme district, where the thermal landscape also includes Roman bath remains and aqueduct structures. The source's relatively cool water and sulphurous character distinguish it from the Bollente.

Context and history

The spring was discovered in the second half of the eighteenth century and used for bathing in the Antiche Terme. The neoclassical tempietto was built in 1847, during a period when Acqui Terme developed its thermal quarter. The monument preserves the history of cold sulphurous treatments, which differed from the town's better-known hot springs.