Day 15 - The Aqueduct

The Roman Aqueduct is one of the largest Roman constructions still standing in Spain. Built in the first century AD, it carried water to the city until the 20th century. It's 166 arches rise over 28m above the Plaza del Azoguejo. The huge granite blocks stay in place without mortar, which may have lead to the medieval legend that the devil himself built the aqueduct in one night. Recently the granite was found to be crumbling, and traffic was banned from passing under the arches.

Details:-

• Built at the end of the first century AD
• 14.9 km from water source to city (not all above ground!)
• Monumental span length is 958m
• Maximum height of monumental section is 28.1m
• There are 166 arches
• Built to supply water to the city of Segovia
• Masterpiece of Roman hydraulic engineering which was built with large granite blocks (laid without mortar).
• The water runs through the channel on the top part of the aqueduct and is piped underneath the city streets until it reaches the Alcazar (at the far end of the old city).
• Declared a national monument in 1884

Modern life goes on in the shadow of a 1900 year old engineering marvel.