THE CANALE DELLO STAGNO

On the south side the Pianabella is bordered by a channel, today called Canale dello Stagno ("Channel of the Swamp"). It already existed in the Roman period, assuring the supply of salt water to the salt pans on top of which modern Ostia Antica is built. A Roman bridge over the canal, about 500 metres to the north of a modern bridge, was preserved intact until the 20th century. It was destroyed during the Second World War, in 1943. In this period the German troops feared an allied amphibious landing in the area, which eventually took place at Anzio.

In the 17th century an inscription was found in the pine forest on the other side of the channel, in the area of the Villa Chigi-Sacchetti, the residence of an aristocratic family owning the area (the inscription is still in the villa). The inscription was therefore found near the bridge. It informs us that originally there was a wooden bridge, which was restored in stone in 284 AD by the Emperors Carinus and Numerianus: "they restored with stone the bridge that had collapsed a long time ago, because it was old, for the people of Laurentum and Ostia". The channel was apparently the border between two territories, of Ostia and of Laurentum.

IM[PP (Imperatores duo) C]AESA[RES] M(arci) [AVRELII] C[AR]INVS [ET] [NVMERIA]N[V]S PII FELICES INVICTI AVGVSTI GERMANICI MAXIMI BRITTANNIC(i) MAXIMI PERSICI MAXIMI TRIBVNICIAE POTESTATIS COSS (consules duo) PATRES PATRIAE PROCONSVLES PONTEM LAVRENTIBVS ADQVE OSTIENSIBVS OLIM VETVSTATE COLLABSVM LAPIDEVM RESTITVERVNT

The inscription from 284 AD (EDR163860).

The inscription from 284 AD (EDR163860).
Villa Chigi, Castel Fusano. Photo: La Mia Ostia

The Roman bridge before its destruction in 1943. Photo: De Nisi 1985, p. 12.

The location of the bridge over the Canale dello Stagno, seen from the Pianabella.

Before continuing our journey, the names of the places and localities involved and some other general issues will be discussed.