Once upon a time, in the picturesque streets of Sulmona, a town nestled in the valleys of Abruzzo, women got up early every morning to perform an ancient ritual: to fetch water from the source with copper basins. It was an activity that required effort and dedication, but also a deep bond with tradition and nature.
The women of Sulmona knew that water was their most precious asset. There was nothing more pure and invigorating than the fresh liquid that flowed from the springs of their beloved city. The copper basins, inherited from previous generations, were their faithful containers for carrying water home.
At sunrise, the women gathered at the main spring. With their simple clothes and faces marked by experience, they prepared to face the fatigue of the day. Each had its own copper basin, weathered but still solid and reliable.
Thus began the walk towards the source, a path that required physical strength and endurance. They traversed the cobbled streets and up steep hills, guided by the melody of the water flowing through the scree. Each step was an offering of gratitude to the earth for giving them the vital element.
Arriving at the source, they came forward one at a time. They would carefully place their copper bowls under the cascading water, listening to the sound fill them with life. Clear, fresh, crystalline water flowed through the women's fingers, awakening in them a feeling of purification and renewal.
With the basins heavily filled, the women began the tiring descent towards the village. Each step required balance and concentration to avoid spilling the water that represented life itself. They supported each other, sharing the weight of the tradition they carried on their shoulders.
Upon their return, the community joyfully awaited the arrival of the women. It was a moment of celebration and sharing, an occasion to gather around the primordial element that women brought with them. Water was carefully distributed to those in need, and stories of that arduous journey were told and passed down from generation to generation.
But over time, the tradition was lost. Convenient pipes and modern fountains have taken the place of copper basins and hillside walks. Water, once precious and revered, has become a taken-for-granted resource.
Today, the women of Sulmona still remember those days spent fetching water with copper basins
