Why is water in Rome free?

It's the legacy of the magnanimity of the ancient emperors, who channeled millions of gallons a day into the city to keep more than a million residents watered, and distributed it for free to the plebeians along with bread, oil, and circuses. At the nasoni of Rome, everyone benefits!



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Instead of buying bottled mineral water, you can just fill it for free on the street. Interestingly, Italy is full of ancient water fountains. They can be incredibly beautiful, so bring your water bottle and camera! Some public areas have paid refill stations, that serve filtered tap water for 5 to 10 eurocents.

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The short answer is yes. Drinking water from the tap in Italy is considered safe. Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles.

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Some guides advise bringing one with you from home. But plastic water bottles work just as well, and they're sold in every cafe in Italy. Buy one when you're here and just keep refilling it at the fountains you'll see everywhere.

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Though the aqueduct was meant to deliver clean water then, it most certainly doesn't do that today. According to Rome Experience, the fountain produces some 80,000 cubic meters of water each day, but adds, “The water is recycled and just for show, so don't be tempted to drink it.”

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Despite what you may have read online, the short answer is YES, tipping is expected and the polite thing to do in many cases in Rome, although it is not as widespread as in the United States. This is my quick, no-nonsense guide to tipping in Rome. Should you tip for coffee in Rome?

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If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.

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Although tap water in Italy is considered safe to drink, restaurants will usually serve bottled water. Asking for tap water in Italy, whether you are in a bar or at a restaurant, is not something that the locals will normally do. Instead, most food establishments in Italy will serve bottled water by default.

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