#historic documentation

The underground lake in Rome.

In the Monteverde neighborhood in Rome, beneath San Camillo and Forlanini's hospital complex, there is a large yellow tuff quarry rich in concretions with very high vaults. The cave measures about 700 square meters. Part of it is occupied by a lake whose spring gushes from a natural source.

It was discovered during the construction of the hospital pavilions over the 1930s. Providing a generous flow of drinking water, it was also used to irrigate the surrounding gardens.

In the early years of the hospital's total efficiency, the cave was accessible utilizing a freight elevator. In the hottest months of the year, foodstuffs were stored there thanks to a constant temperature of 13 degrees.

For the record, also, it turned out to be a safe house during the Second World War, as doctors and patients found refuge here from bombing.

In 2014 much emphasis has been given to the underground Rome discovery by cavers. But to date, only experts in the field can visit this natural morphological and geological scenery of incomparable attraction, the underground cave.

Abstract initially published by Michela Foianesi in Gli amici di Massimo che per caso sono passati dal Forlanini.

⏩  The Board Behind

Il laghetto sotterraneo a Roma

Sotto il complesso ospedaliero del San Camillo e del Forlanini, a Monteverde, si trova un'enorme cava di tufo giallo con volte altissime. La grotta misura circa 700 metri quadri ed una parte è occupata dal lago che sgorga da una fonte naturale. Fu scoperta durante la costruzione dei padiglioni dell’ospedale, negli anni ’30: l’acqua potabile al suo interno fu infatti usata per irrigare i giardini.

Alder’s Alarm had woken him at six-fifteen that Wednesday morning.  He had brushed his teeth, showered, shaved and was in the process of gelling his thick black curls.  By six-forty-nine he was dressed in a finely tailored navy suit, that had been hand washed and pressed the night before (not by him); underneath his Armoney pants, he wore plain white boxers that spelled ‘Fuck the Establishment’ discreetly across the back.  He strode merrily down the stairs and met his wife in the kitchen.  He kissed her politely on the cheek as she passed him a steaming plate of breakfast domesticity. 

 “And how are you this morning Junior?  How is school going?”  Inquired Alder of a small, freckled, buck toothed boy.

 “Good dad, I got the second best grade in the class on a science project on Friday,” said the boy, as though he had rehearsed this interaction only moments before his father had come down to test his efforts.

 “That’s good son, no need to put the other kids to shame.  What about you Emily?”

 “I’m fine daddy, I got an A on my spelling test yesterday,” smiled a chubby girl, with a nervous expression.

 “Fighting against autocorrect, it’s a dying art.”  Then addressing his wife Alder inquired after his eldest progeny, “Where’s Robin this morning dear?”

 “Darling Robin prefers to sleep in and eat her breakfast on the bus.”

 “Oh that’s right,” muttered Alder absently, his mind already on how soon he could discontinue this obligatory familial nicety. 

 The conversation was kept to a minimum during the remainder of breakfast, although the scrambled eggs were creamy, the orange juice was freshly squeezed and the bacon was crispy, the silence was not due to culinary satisfaction. 

 “Oh dear look at the time,” said Alder at seven-thirty am, “I mustn’t be late for work.”  With that Alder got up, kissed his wife on the forehead, wiped his lips, patted his children on the head, three times each.  Just as he was almost out the door, he changed his mind; and returned up the stairs, stopping at the door adjacent to his own.  He knocked; he knocked again, then finally entered.

 “Robin?” he called through the door.

 Robin was laying fully dressed, eyes closed across her bed, listening to her noise canceling headphones.  Alder walked over to her and pulled them off.

 “What the fuck dad,” Robin growled unmoved.

 “I’d ask you to clean up your language, but frankly I’m just pleased to hear your voice,” smiled Alder.

 “Sorry I didn’t realize those twenty seconds of academic drivel meant so much to you.  School is fine.  Everyday I sit in class and think, how instead of ignoring the teacher, I could find an automatic rifle and really ‘dismiss the class.’  Or you know just drop out, move out and sell my body for cigarettes and spare change.”

 “You may be surprised to know that, in this family, that would not be a particularly unique life choice,” said Alder unperturbed.

 “Dad, this time, is me trying to pull myself together enough to not have a complete breakdown at school.  Can you just head for the door marked ‘exit’ (well actually, its the door marked ‘do not disturb’)?”  Robin’s demeanor concerned Alder, too much of the substance behind her vacancy reflected his own.  Feeling somewhat helpless he got up, to leave.

 “Robin, why does the inside of your door say ‘do not disturb’?”

 “Mom said I couldn’t put it on the outside of the door, and I guess it seemed like good advise.  Don’t you think?”

 “I do,” Alder smiled as he left.