Vedetta Liburnia / Vodovodni turn

Why did the people of Santa Croce quarrel with the builders of Vedetta Liburnia? Let’s unravel this tale of water and woe here at this intriguing structure. Vedetta Liburnia, once a vital water tower, stands as a silent witness to Trieste’s thirst for progress. Designed by Carl Junker, the same architect behind Miramare Castle, it was erected between 1854 and 1856. Initially, the Vedetta Liburnia wasn’t a viewpoint at all. Its purpose was far more utilitarian. It served as a “piezometric tower,” regulating water pressure for a branch of the aqueduct. This aqueduct tapped into the Aurisina Springs and supplied water to the railway station. The location, chosen for its prominence, was then a desolate karst landscape. Today, it’s nestled amidst a dense pine forest. The tower’s construction sparked a feud with the residents of Santa Croce. The Vedetta Liburnia, and its accompanying pipes, encroached on their communal land. In 1861, Santa Croce’s representatives petitioned the Trieste Municipal Council, demanding the restoration of their land rights. Their plea highlighted a desperate situation. The village of over 1200 people relied on a single cistern. This cistern only provided water for four months of the year. Villagers had to trek to a distant spring or even send carts to San Giovanni di Duino for water. While the Vedetta Liburnia ensured a steady water supply for the railway, the villagers felt betrayed. They’d been promised access to water in exchange for the land. The dispute dragged on for years. The Southern Railway Company, which had acquired the aqueduct in 1858, deflected responsibility. The villagers of Santa Croce waited, parched, for a resolution. Abandoned after World War II, the Vedetta Liburnia found new life in 1985. The CAI of Fiume/Rijeka section renovated it as a viewpoint, commemorating their centenary. The firm Innocente e Stipanovich reinforced the walls and added an internal metal staircase. Now, Vedetta Liburnia offers panoramic views. You can spot Miramare Castle, a subtle nod to its shared creator with this unassuming tower. The large pipe that once connected the reservoir to the aqueduct still remains, a reminder of its original purpose. It serves as a testament to a time when even technical structures were designed with architectural grace. And to the struggle of a village for access to a basic necessity, overshadowed by the demands of industrial progress.