Alessandro Manetti's "barrel"

From 1854 to 1859, Alessandro Manetti perfected the reclamation of Lake Bientina by channelling the waters of the 'Canale Imperiale' into an emissary canal that, with an ingenious underground tunnel system, still undercuts the Arno and flows directly into the sea between Calambrone and Leghorn: the Barrel.

During this period, engineer Manetti lived in Cascina and a plaque can still be seen on the façade of his house, which reads:

“After the Arno in the great floods of February 16th and March 23rd, 1855 - twice broken every restraint near the church of San Cassiano - opened a gap in the plain - prompt and frequent came H.R.H. Leopold Grand Duke. The Grand Duke Leopold II - came to the aid of the afflicted population - and together with his august son, the great hereditary prince - with his presence and with his own advice hastened so much the work of rebuilding - that it was completed in a short time - the nearby countryside was rescued from the fury of the waters - and the interrupted communications were re-established - in memory of the disaster and of the beneficial providences - this marble - on the front of the house inhabited by the engineers of the works - for the draining of the lake of Bientina - where the pitiful sovereign had shelter - Alessandro Manetti director placed“.