The Aqueduct of Segovia

The Aqueduct of Segovia is a marvelous Roman structure and one of the most noteworthy and best-preserved ancient monuments left on the Iberian Peninsula in Spain. More precisely, you can call it the Aqueduct Bridge. The fact that it is on the city’s coat of arms indicates that it is the major emblem of Segovia.

It is the city’s most vital architectural landmark. It has been functioning for several centuries and is preserved in great condition. The aqueduct construction date is not confirmed; however, it is believed that it took place somewhere in the first century AD during the reigns of Emperors Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan.

The first reconstruction took place during the reign of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, when a total of 36 arches were built with great care without disturbing the original design. The unmortared brick-like granite blocks were used to construct aqueducts in the Roman era.

Moreover, the three tallest arches show a sign in bronze letters, indicating the name of their builder. These days, two niches are still visible: one is Hercules, and the other is an image of Virgen de la Fuencisla. The Aqueduct Bridge is built of about 20.400 blocks of granite, or 7.500 m3 of granite, with a total weight of 20.000 tons. Hence, the largest block in the bridge has a weight of 2 tons, and blocks of 1.000 kg are common.

The site was listed in the 2006 World Monuments Fund. Indeed, the Aqueduct of Segovia is an exclusive structure, still carries its original character, and remains a protuberant and evocative feature of the regional landscape. It represents the aesthetics and functionality that are so strongly associated with the engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.

The Aqueduct of Segovia functioned for many centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire and served the communities of Segovia well into the modern era. The aqueduct is special in every pillar, and the spandrel has a different design; some have a common springer, others have separate but touching ones, and the bases of several of the spandrels are different. There are a few arches in the center of the aqueduct that were ruined during the Muslim conquest of the 9th century; however, Catholic Kings restored them in the 15th century.

Well, one of the major purposes of building an aqueduct is to transport water from the Rio Frio River 11 miles from the city in the La Acebeda region, which took 9.3 miles before arriving in the city. The water was first gathered in a tank and led through a channel to a second tower.

The tallest aqueduct reaches a height of 28.5 meters and is well supported by single and double arches and pillars. It provided water to Segovia until the mid-19th century. Nowadays, it is well-deserved for the structure to pay attention to its continued protection and stabilization. The Aqueduct of Segovia remains one of the most intact Roman aqueducts in Europe.

The Aqueduct of Segovia structure stands 28.5 meters tall at its maximum height and nearly 6 additional meters deep in the main section. The pillars and arches of its tall, two-story arcades are made of solid blocks of stone that fit closely together with little or no mortar, and the lower arches alternate in height according to the structure’s adaptation to the contours of the land.

This is not a religious site, but it is such a magnificent monument that we just can’t bear to leave it out. This is the most visited and photographed sight in Segovia, and the symbolism of the city, its massive scale, and its state of preservation are unmatched anywhere in Europe. Unfortunately, after enduring amazingly intact conditions for almost two millennia, the aqueduct is currently facing tremendous threats from modern-day pollution and vibrations from traffic.

Also Read: Stunning Rapa River Delta Sweden

Source: Wikipedia, WMF, and Sacred Destination