Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Segovia's Roman aqueduct is its most emblematic structure - literally, as it is the main component of the city's coat of arms. It - or, to be precise, the bridge supporting it - stands over the Plaza del Azogüejo at the entrance to the historic centre of Segovia, where it was built between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the early 2nd century AD. Its purpose was to bring water to the city from the Rio Fuenfría about 18km away, which required it to run from the Sierra de Guadarrama to the walls of the old town. Its main part consists of 166 arches, supported by 120 pillars, which cover a distance of 1km (0.6mi). It is made of 20,400 large, rough-hewn granite blocks, joined without mortar or clamps, and rises to a maximum height of 28.1m (100.53ft).

Apart from its imposing height, the most striking thing about the aqueduct is its good condition. This is because it was still in use as recently as fifty years ago (depending on who you believe: some say it is still in use today, others that it functioned until 1908, or 1974, or...). It is now threatened by most of the ills of modern times: traffic (heavy lorries used to be allowed under its arches until quite recently), pollution (including acid rain), and so on, but is being meticulously restored to compensate.

The Devil's Work
According to local legend, the aqueduct was built overnight by the devil after a young water-girl had offered to sell him her soul in exchange for having the water reach her front door (she is said to have prayed her way out of the agreement).

Click here for Aqueduct opening hours, entrance prices, and how to get there.