Deep beneath our feet, a hidden world awaits. It is the world of the Qanat della Vignicella. This is not just any underground tunnel. It is a testament to ancient ingenuity and a vital part of Palermo’s history.
The Qanat della Vignicella is one of Palermo’s qanats. These are underground aqueducts. They were first developed in ancient Iran. In Arabic, such a channel is called a kariz.
These qanats were a smart engineering solution. They stored water. They moved it to the surface. This allowed for lush gardens in a warm region. Think of Palermo’s scorching summers. Maintaining water supplies was a primary need. The Qanat della Vignicella helped meet that need.
From 831 to 1072, Palermo was under Arab rule. This was the Emirate of Sicily. Many of the city’s distinctive features emerged during this time. This includes the qanats. Workers from Persia were called in. They designed and dug the sloped channels. These channels moved water from an aquifer into the city. The Qanat della Vignicella was built over a long period. It dates from the Arab rule to the end of Norman rule.
The muqanni, masters of water, excavated these underground tunnels with simple hoes. The walls of these tunnels consisted of calcarenite. This is a crumbly and easily excavated rock. These tunnels intercepted the aquifer at a certain depth. Through gravity and a play of slopes, they transported the water to the surface.
The Qanat della Vignicella played a crucial role. It supplied water to Palermo. This was especially important in the perpetually thirsty summers. This easy water supply contributed significantly to the city’s development. The techniques used were of Arab-Persian origin. Later, the Jesuits adopted and reevaluated them. They used them to overcome the lack of springs and wells.
“La Vignicella” was an estate owned by the Jesuits. In its subsoil lies one of the qanats that can still be visited today. It is the so-called Gesuitico basso. Further up towards Monreale, we find the Gesuitico alto. There is also the Qanat dell’Uscibene.
The Gesuitico basso was discovered by chance in 1979. This happened during excavations for a construction. The location was inside the former psychiatric hospital in the Corso Calatafimi area. It has an average width of 80 cm. Its height varies from a minimum of 1.50 meters. The water has a temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius. Downstream, it reaches a height of 1.50 meters. Until a few centuries ago, this Qanat supplied water to the city of Palermo.
After the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Bourbon Kingdom in 1789, Antonio Lo Cascio acquired the church of Uscibene. He also got “La Vignicella” and the church of San Leonardo. This area was the psychiatric hospital. In 1852, the entire estate passed into the ownership of the rector of the Collegio Massimo dei Gesuiti. Only in 1933, this part of the ancient Genoardo and this piece of Palermo’s history was assigned to the Manicomio.
Today, you can visit the Qanat della Vignicella. Cave guides provide a helmet and light. But be prepared. The water level can reach a depth of up to one meter. As you explore, remember the hands that built this. Remember the ingenuity that brought water to a thirsty city. The Qanat della Vignicella is more than just a tunnel. It is a living piece of Palermo’s past. It is a testament to the enduring power of human innovation.