Segovia Aqueduct

This Civil work was thought and built with the aim of supplying the town of Segovia with water from the River Acebeda, through a subterraneous system that starts to rise on the arches that form the monumental part, travelling a total of 18 km until arriving to the Alcázar. It is one of the consequences of the Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula during six Centuries that caused the development of a wide program of public buildings.

20,400 stone blocks joined without using any type of mortar were used for its construction. The technique of construction used in this building consists of lifting huge pillars placing them gradually with a 22.40 by 3 meters section, joined half way up and with supporting arches in the upper section.

The most famous and monumental part of the aqueduct belongs to the transparent wall of successive arches that keep it raised. We can appreciate four bays in its structure. The first bay consists of six round arches and it is almost 2.40 meters high. The second bay consists of 25 arcades and the third one consists of 44 arcades that, as well as in the four bay, are superimposed in two floors, except for the two ends.

Over the three highest arches there was a bronze plaque with the date and the author of this monument. In the niches that the aqueduct has on each side, we can see the image of the Virgen de la Fuencisla, the patron Saint of the town, and of St Sebastian, from the XVI.

The author made an excellent use of technique, because of the balance of the piping rests on the whole complex.