Aqueduct in Segovia

One of the most famous, most important and best preserved structures created by the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the symbol of Segovia, with Alcazar and the cathedral are the main attraction of the city.
According to legend, the aqueduct is the work of the devil, who made ​​a pact with a girl working as a water carrier. She had to givesoul to the devil if the devil will provide water to the door before the rooster crows. At night the city was a great storm, and theaqueduct before the cock crew was almost finished, lacking only the position of a single stone. But it was enough to defeat the devil. Residents learned of the incident have spent building and then placed there, images of the Virgin Mary and St. Stephen.


In fact, the creation of the aqueduct dates back to the half-century or early second century during the reign of Emperor Vespasianand Nerva. It was used to transport water from a distance of about 17 km Fuenfría source.


On the way to the city water is collected in a reservoir called El Caseron, and then in the tower of Casa de Aguas. There occursprecipitation of sand and the water stays on the hill 728 meters with a slope of 1 percent, called Postigo on which the Alcázar.

The highest point of the aqueduct reaches a height of 28.5 meters. The whole structure consists of 167 medicines, of which 79are single and 44 double. It is built of granite blocks.


Higher tier are drugs with a width of 5.10 m clearance, supported on columns narrower and lower than those of the lower floors. In the upper part of the structure is U-shaped channel with dimensions of 55 cm to 46 cm. Lower tier, cassing uneven ground, are drugs with a width of 4.50 m clearance columns supported on tapering.


The top three curves located in Roman times was a plate of bronze letters with information about the builder and the date ofconstruction. In the upper part of the aqueduct can be seen also two niches on each side of the structure. It is known that one of them could see past the image of the Egyptian Hercules, who according to legend was the founder of the city. Currently in the niches are images of the city patron saint of the Virgin Mary and St. Stephen.


In the fifteenth century, when Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile was the first major reconstruction of the aqueduct. Don Pedro has a rebuilt Mesa consisting of 36 anxiety episode destroyed by the Moors in 1072. The work was performed with great care so as not to make any changes to the original draft and keep the original style.


Piped water is the most important architectural monument of Segovia. On the spaces of the century aqueduct was operated andmaintained in perfect condition. However, due to pollution and erosion of the aqueduct ruin. In order to guarantee the survival of the pipeline began in 1997, maintenance work, which are overseen by the architect Francisco Jurado. Since 1985, the aqueductis a UNESCO World Heritage Site.