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Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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Salerno
Medieval Aqueduct in Salerno, Italy
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
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According to the legend,
this structure was built in a single night with the help of the devil.
Let's take a look.
Salerno Medieval Aqueduct in Salerno,
Italy
In order to bring water to
the nearby monastery of St. Benedict, a massive
aqueduct was built during the 9th century in what is now the historic center of
Salerno.
At the time the city was thriving as one of the most important centers
of Italy. While technically under the rule of the Lombards, this area was also
being pressured by the Byzantine Empire who ruled much of Southern Italy.
This situation made for active international
trade in the area which brought riches to Salerno.
A different view with two sets of arches
The aqueduct consists
of two separate branches, joining near the monastery and the old city walls.
At this location, the tall arches of the aqueducts have been renamed Ponte del Diavolo
(Bridge of the Devil), because according to a local legend, it was built in just
one night by 12th-century alchemist Pietro Barliario, with the help of demons.
The popular superstition also said that passing under the arches at dawn or dusk
would result in meeting the devil or some kind of evil spirit.
Making arches pointed was a
new architectural feature of Medieval construction, differentiating it from
Roman round arches.
To the local uneducated population, these "pointed arches" gave it an ominous
appearance - good stuff for legends and fairy tales to be made up.
A closer look at the aqueduct structure
The Rafastia tributary used to flow above
ground here, making access to the bottom of the aqueduct difficult. In fact, the
area under the arches was inaccessible until the mid-20th century. The darkness
and lapping of water added to the eeriness of the area and the ominous
appearance of "pointed arches" frightened the people..
Today the stream has gone underground below
the town center and flows under the current road Via Velia.
The aqueduct's primary purpose was to transport water from the Irno River to the
city of Salerno.
The Rafastia stream flows under these
streets
There was a frightening flood in October of
1954 which seriously damaged the city. The Rafastia - along with other small
waterways - were so strained from the unexpected amount of rain that fell, that the pressure of the
water from the streams underground "blew up the road," sucking many people into
the chasms.
That sounds fairly "devilish" to me!
Yikes!
Billy and Akaisha with the aqueduct behind
us
Here we are in modern days, 70 years from
that horrible storm with the aqueduct above and behind us, and the Rafastia
stream running beneath us.
Salerno, Italy
Worth a visit!
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their time, and who doesn’t
want to mindlessly follow the crowd.
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