Wignacourt Aqueduct
Part of the aqueduct at Birkirkara
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| Begins | Dingli and Rabat |
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| Ends | Valletta |
| Coordinates | 35°53′35.4″N 14°27′36.8″E / 35.893167°N 14.460222°ECoordinates: 35°53′35.4″N 14°27′36.8″E / 35.893167°N 14.460222°E |
| Length | c. 26.5 km (29,000 yd) |
| Capacity | 1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) daily |
| Construction began | 19 October 1596 (first attempt) 9 January 1610 (second attempt) |
| Opening date | 21 April 1615 |
| Closing date | 20th century |
The Wignacourt Aqueduct (Maltese: L-Akwedott ta' Wignacourt) is a 17th-century aqueduct in Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John to carry water from springs in Dingli and Rabat to the newly-built capital city Valletta. The aqueduct was carried through underground pipes and over arched viaducts across depressions in the ground.
The first attempts to build the aqueduct were made by Grand Master Martin Garzez in 1596, but construction was suspended before being continued in 1610. The watercourse was inaugurated five years later on 21 April 1615. Several engineers took part in the project, including Bontadino de Bontadini, Giovanni Attard and Natale Tomasucci. The aqueduct was named after Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, who partially financed its construction.
The aqueduct remained in use until the 20th century. Most of its arches still survive today, and can still be seen in the localities of Attard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Fleur-de-Lys and Santa Venera. Other remains of the aqueduct include water towers at Santa Venera, Ħamrun and Floriana, and several fountains in Floriana and Valletta.
In 1566, the capital city of Valletta was founded on the Sciberras Peninsula, which did not have a good water supply. Rainwater collected within the city was not enough to meet the needs of its population. Water had to be carted from springs to the city, but this became difficult by the end of the 16th century, when the city had become the largest settlement in Malta. At the time, there were also fears of an Ottoman attack on Malta, so a steady water supply to the capital was a priority for the military authorities in the case of a siege.
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