Italy's First-Ever 24-Hour Wine Fountain Opens To The Public For Free

This is perhaps the most Italian headline we've seen in a long time.

Shutterstock

Joanna Fantozzi|Oct. 13, 2016 3:27 pm EST

In most areas of the world, public drinking fountains expel regular old tap water. But not in Italy. The newest public drinking fountain located in Caldari di Ortona in Abruzzo, Italy, flows rivers of red wine, and it's free to the public.

This 24/7 "fontana del vino" (a welcome addition to the community) was installed by the nearby Dora Sarchese vineyard. There's no catch or gimmick, the vineyard owners explained. Nor is the fountain for "drunkards" or "louts," they noted on the vineyard's Facebook page. They simply wanted to provide a service that had been previously unheard of in Italian history, according to The Local.

The wine fountain is located along a popular trail, the Cammino di San Tommaso, which is used by thousands of Catholics every year on the pilgrimage to see the remains of Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples. Now, travelers can enjoy some refreshments during the long journey.

Until now, wine fountains in Italy had only been used for holidays and special occasions. This is the first known fountain to distribute free wine 24/7.