I'm back from Sardegna and Piemonte! Pictures are in the
highlights on my Instagram, but you'll have to wait until the next newsletter for that recap. I'm still processing - ha!
Instead, let's talk about something quintessentially Roman that many visitors completely overlook: the nasone.
Nasoni (literally "big noses" because of their distinctive spout shape) are cast-iron drinking fountains scattered throughout Rome. They started appearing in Rome in the 1870s as part of a public health initiative to provide free, clean drinking water. They're fed by the same aqueduct system that's been supplying Rome since ancient times.
Here's the thing: they still work, and Romans still use them constantly. Tourists usually walk right past to purchase a €5 bottled water, but the nasone water is cold, clean, and free. There are over 2,500 of them scattered throughout the city, making them impossible to miss once you start looking.
There's even an app to find them!
How to use one: Stand to the side of it, locate the small hole at the base of the spout, and press it with your finger or thumb. Water shoots up at an angle (hence the spout design), and you catch it in your mouth or cupped hands. It takes practice not to splash yourself, but it's part of the charm. Fair warning: your first attempt will probably result in water down your shirt, but you'll get the hang of it.
So next time you're wandering Rome's streets parched and thirsty, skip the overpriced water bottles and find a nasone. You'll be drinking like a Roman while saving money and respecting 150 years of public infrastructure.
That's basically the definition of travel done right.
P.s. you'll find these fountains across all of Italy, but Rome has the highest concentration
