The Aqua Claudia Aqueduct in Rome was constructed more or less at the same time as the Anio Novus Aqueduct. Remains of this aqueduct can still be seen in the center of the city, near the Palatine Hill.
Acqua Claudia Aqueduct Rome
History and description
It was the emperor Caligula who started construction of the aqueduct, but it was under Claudius that the 69km (43 miles) long monument was finished. Claudius also ended up giving his name to the monument.
The source is in the valley of the river Aniene. The springs are near what used to be called the Via Sublacencis and are called Curzio and Ceruleo and can be found in the area around the city of Arsoli.
The Aqua Claudia is one of the best known aqueducts since a stretch of no less than 10km of its arches can be seen in the countryside around Rome. The best way to see this is in the Parco degli Acquedotti, where they sometimes reach a height of over 27m.
The final destination of the Aqua Claudia was the reservoir called Spes Vetus, near Porta Maggiore.
Later emperors had branches built off the Aqua Claudia. Nero had a branch (the Acquedotto di Nerone) constructed that led to the Celio Hill and his Domus Aurea (and was later extended by Domitian to reach the Palatine Hill). A well-preserved stretch of this branch can be seen along the Via Statilia.
In the 8th century Hadrian I would order another restoration in order to get water to the Lateran area.