The water that flows from the nasoni scattered around the city is perfectly safe to drink. Romans will tell you, with some pride, that it's among the best tap water in Italy.
Much of it arrives from springs in the hills east of the city through aqueducts, some of which follow routes first engineered by the ancient Romans.
How to drink from a nasone
- Find the small hole on top of the curved spout.
- Block the end of the spout with your finger.
- The water shoots up in an arc from the hole on top, straight into your mouth. No cup, no bending down.
Or do what most visitors do and simply refill your bottle from the spout. In summer, a bottle and the nasoni will save you a small fortune in bottled water.
A little history
The first nasoni were installed in 1874, soon after Rome became the capital of Italy, to bring free public water to every neighbourhood. The original spouts ended in dragon heads; the simple curved "nose" came later and gave the fountains their name. Today there are around 2,500 of them across the city, and the water runs constantly, which keeps it cool and fresh.
Good to know
- The water is cold all year round, which is a blessing in August.
- If a fountain has a sign saying acqua non potabile, don't drink from it. You'll rarely see one.
- Don't drink from the big ornamental fountains like Trevi. Those are for coins, not bottles.
Quick answers
Is the water from Rome's drinking fountains safe?
Yes. The water from the nasoni is drinking-quality municipal water and is safe to drink and refill bottles with.
How do you drink from a nasone?
Block the end of the spout with your finger and the water arcs up from a small hole on top, like a drinking fountain.