The Nottolini aqueduct stands as a definitive engineering achievement, utilizing a series of arched supports terminating in circular domed temples to transport spring water across the Luccan plain. Completed between 1822 and 1833, this infrastructure project remains the primary work of Lorenzo Nottolini, a practitioner who bridged the disciplines of classical architecture and civil engineering in nineteenth-century Italy.
Early Training and Education
Born in 1787 in Segromigno in Monte, Capannori, Nottolini began his foundational training in Lucca under Giovanni Lazzarini, an architect serving Elisa Baciocchi, Duchess of Lucca and sister to Napoleon Bonaparte. Supported by this patronage, he attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze from 1811 to 1813. His education continued in Bologna at the Accademia Clementina and in Rome, where he studied under Giuseppe Valadier and Louis-Martin Berthault. During his time in Rome, his professional contributions included restoration projects at the churches of Sant'Eusebio and San Clemente, as well as work on the Palazzo Maria Luisa.
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Upon returning to Lucca in 1818, Nottolini received the appointment of Court Architect and Engineer. He managed major public works projects, including the expansion of the Ducal Palace, which featured a new vaulting entrance, a grand staircase, and a dedicated sculpture gallery. His urban design efforts included the clearance and reorganization of the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro between 1830 and 1839. Additionally, he executed the design of the Cappella Orsetti in 1822, which drew inspiration from the Palladian style.
Engineering Innovations
Nottolini frequently sought international technical expertise to inform his projects, notably traveling to Berlin in 1833 to consult on aqueduct construction. In 1839, he visited England to study iron bridge engineering, leading to his design of the Ponte delle Catene at Fornoli. This suspension bridge over the River Lima utilized triumphal arches as functional supports, representing a significant structural innovation for the period. Beyond these works, he participated in the Great Project of Tuscany, contributing to the drainage of the Lake of Bientina and the Lake of Sesto.
Fast facts
- Born: 1787, Capannori
- Died: 1851, Lucca
- Education: Academy of Fine Arts, Florence
- Primary Field: Neoclassical Architecture
- Notable Infrastructure: Nottolini aqueduct
- Bridge Construction: Ponte delle Catene, 1839
Questions readers ask
What was Nottolini's contribution to Lucca's water supply?
He constructed an arched aqueduct between 1822 and 1833 to bring spring water into the city, designing domed temples to serve as conduits at the structure's ends.
Did Nottolini work outside of Lucca?
While he performed restoration work in Rome early in his career and was invited to Florence in 1847, he chose to remain in Lucca for the duration of his professional life.
Achievements
- Trained at Academy of Fine Arts, Florence
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