2019 LICEO DELLE SCIENZE UMANE “DON G. SIGISMONDI” Nocera Umbra (PG) NOCERA” UMBRA: “CITY OF WATERS” (March, 22nd 2019) The abundance of water is the main feature of Nocera’s territory, where many springs can be found
MAIN SPRINGS:
“Angelica”
“Flaminia”
“Cacciatore” (or “Centino”)
“Bagnara” and “San Giovenale” Nocera Umbra Location of Nocera Umbra’s main springs
2 km
Angelica Nocera Umbra Flaminia
Cacciatore
S. Giovenale
Bagnara ANGELICA spring Known since the Middle Ages
Hystorical sources say that S. Francis used Angelica water to improve his health.
Officially used for therapeutical purposes since the XVIth century A SPA centre was built in “Bagni di Nocera”, where the spring is located. This centre became very popular and, during the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries, famous people, as the poet Giacomo Leopardi, the dramatist Luigi Pirandello and the scientist Gay- Lussac, visited the place and spent some time there. At present, in Bagni di Nocera, just in the same location where the SPA centre was, there is a Hotel & Congress Centre Thanks to Felice Bisleri, a businessman from Milan, in 1894 Angelica water started to be bottled and sold; it is still on the market today Presently, Angelica is the official water of the Italian Fencing Federation Nowadays, the company “Nocera Umbra Fonti Storiche S.p.A.” manages the marketing of Angelica water (together with Flaminia water) “Nocera Umbra Fonti Storiche S.p.A.”: factory at the beginning of the XIXth century
“Nocera Umbra Fonti Storiche S.p.A.” logo Chemical and physical properties of Angelica water
It is defined as an “oligomineral, with low sodium content, natural water”
The analysis of the water is regularly carried out by the Department of Chemistry of Perugia University Main chemical and physical parameters (from the analysis of April 13th2017)
Temperature at the spring (°C): 11,1 pH: 7,5 Fixed residue at 180°C: 288 mg/L Calcium: 92 mg/L Magnesium : 1,29 mg/L Sodium: 2,99 mg/L Sulphate: 2,65 mg/L NOTE THAT:
1. The fixed residue (global minerals concentration), is between 50 and 500 mg/L (quite low), that is why this water can be defined “oligomineral” (light)
2. Among the main minerals, the most abundant one is Calcium, because this water comes out of calcium carbonate rocks. SOMESOME OLDOLD LABELSLABELS ANDAND ADVERTISINGADVERTISING IMAGESIMAGES FORFOR ANGELICAANGELICA MINERALMINERAL WATER…WATER… 1926 1930 1932
“It has been used for centuries, against stomach, intestine, kidney diseases: it is the mineral water of Angelica spring from Nocera Umbra. Alkaline, light, digestive” 1930s – 1940s
This label, written in English, was designed for the foreign market FLAMINIA spring
At present, it is the most used spring. It is free and many people come and take it for domestic uses. Chemical and physical properties of Flaminia water
As Angelica water, it is defined as an “oligomineral, with low sodium content, natural water”
It is distributed by the famous brand CONAD
The analysis of the water is regularly carried out by the Department of Chemistry of Perugia University Main chemical and physical parameters (from the analysis of April 13th2017)
Temperature at the spring(°C): 11,6 pH: 7,5 Fixed residue at 180°C : 248 mg/L Calcium: 76,4 mg/L Magnesium : 1,1 mg/L Sodium: 2,65 mg/L Sulphate: 2,85 mg/L NOTE THAT:
1. As for Angelica water, the fixed residue is between 50 and 500 mg/L , therefore Flaminia is another oligomineral water, BUT:
2. it is lighter than Angelica water.
3. As for Angelica water, the main mineral is Calcium. Some old labels for Flaminia mineral water…
1970
1997 Nocera umbra Fonti Storiche S.p.A. CACCIATORE (or CENTINO) spring The water of Cacciatore spring has been used for many years by local people and it is still used today, but it is not sold anymore.
“Cacciatore” means “hunter”, and this name was given because people say that in the past hunters used to stop at the spring to rest and drink and to water their dogs. Nowadays, local people use the name “Centino” for the spring. The factory for bottling this water was active from the ’50s to the ’80s
Centino bottling plant, 1951
Label for Cacciatore spring water during the ‘50s Since 1983, The Municipality of Nocera Umbra and the Province of Perugia have been the owners of the area around the spring, where they hope to build a SPA centre. Characteristics of Centino water
Centino water is known to be very light and therefore good to help the functionality of kidneys, liver, pancreas and in case of diabetes. These properties have been discovered and declared after chemical analysis and medical studies.
Analysis of Centino water: report 1966 There is no updated official analysis of Centino water
The analysis conducted in 1952 by the Microbiology and Hygiene Department of Rome University, gave the following results for the main parameters: Main chemical and physical parameters (from the analysis carried out in May 1952)
Temperature at the spring (°C): 12,2 pH: 7,7 Fixed residue at 180°C : 196 mg/L Calcium: 64 mg/L Magnesium : 2 mg/L Sodium: 2,6 mg/L Sulphate: 4,8mg/L Potassium: 1,4 mg/L NOTE THAT:
Centino water is lighter than Angelica and Flaminia waters
As for Angelica and Flaminia waters, the most abundant chemical element is Calcium BAGNARA and SAN GIOVENALE springs Bagnara is the spring from which the river Topino rises
“Ferce” falls “Topino” river Topino river and Nocera Umbra are mentioned by Dante Alighieri in the “Divine Comedy”, in the description of Saint Francis Bagnara and San Giovenale springs are very close and their waters are used for the aqueducts of Nocera Umbra, Assisi, Perugia, Corciano, Magione, Passignano sul Trasimeno
Nocera Umbra Bagnara and San Giovenale waters are chemically very similar to those of the other springs, they are defined “oligomineral calcium-carbonate waters” Nocera Umbra’s territory is characterised by another important natural resource:
the WHITE CLAY (“Terra di Nocera Umbra”)
White clay and local waters are used together to create particular products. An old picture of “Eburnea”, a powder for cosmetic use made with the white clay of Nocera Umbra The end…
Students: Giada Angeletti, Elisa Monteneri, Davide Serena, Martina Linda Tiberi
Teacher: Carla Evangelisti References • www.acqueminerali.it • www.arpaumbria.it • www.comunanzabagnara.com • www.facebook.com/FonteAngelica • www.facebook.com/NoceraUmbraFontiStoriche • www.filleacgil.net • www.globeitalia.net • www.nocerainumbria.it • www.terradinocera.it • www.umbriaon.it • Francesco Farabi: “Il cimitero delle acque – il patrimonio delle acque minerali a Nocera Umbra” (Tesi di Specializzazione).