The Troughs

A number of cellars overlook Vicolo Vallai (the Vallum below Rivolte San Sebastiano). On the uphill side, those within the ancient circle of the 1321 walls, they all have the peculiarity of having tanks under the floor: the troughs.

These basins, plastered with hydraulic mortar to make them waterproof, are called "tröji" in dialect (same origin as trou - hole in French); they were used on various occasions as silos for storing grain, as cisterns for oil or water, and as a food store in case of siege.

A fine well can still be seen at No. 3 Via del Pretorio, just behind the main door; the well could be accessed through an opening that allowed water to be drawn directly from inside the building; today this opening is closed and the niche houses the electricity meters.

However, the well is still active, it is fed by an underground vein and fills up by infiltration; the water is drinkable, but for safety's sake, since it is not possible to carry out regular analyses, it is only used to water the garden.
The water is drinkable, but for safety's sake it is only used for watering the garden as no regular tests can be carried out. It can be accessed from a cellar which has an entrance from Vicolo Vallai.

Another well, similar to the one in via del Pretorio, is located in a cellar of a house in via del Popolo.

(for the subject "The Cisterns", both the texts and part of the images are taken from "Sanremo Invisibile" by Giacomo Mannisi and Anna Blangetti, whom I thank for their collaboration; more images from private archives)