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SEGOVIA
General View Of The Aqueduct
SEGOVIA
AQUEDUCT

Without a doubt, this millennial prodigy of the roman ingenuity. Since its almost 2000 years, it still faithfully continues to perform its service. It maybe that because of its great importance of delivering potable water to Segovia, it maintains is magnificent conservation having resisted the passing storms, earthquakes and hurricanes. These feats elevates this construction as a masterpiece of engineering of which 20,400 stone blocks are not united by mortar nor concrete. Yes, you read that correctly, the Monumental Aqueduct of Segovia maintains itself because of the prefect equilibrium of forces which make quite vulnerable to man’s deliberate actions.

Born near the road of the splendid palace of the Granja to capture the crystalline waters of the Frio River, in a place called La Acebeda. Its first arches are simple leading the water to the city about 18 Km away, where it is recaptured primarily in a cistern known as El Caserón, after which is it conducted by a channel of freestones towards a second tower, where it is cleaned to continue its journey. When it arrives to the Plaza of Diaz Sanz takes a 900 turn to continue in augmented double arches in a decline of 1% which allows the water to run through the channel that is supported by 88 impressive arches. Its maximum height of 28.10 mtrs (100.53 ft) is found at the plaza of Azoguejo . From this feat of engineering, they were able to by pass the great depression of the River Clamores, and reach the rocky spur on which the Alcazar rested. The trajectory most popularly known of the aqueduct covers a distance of 278 mts. (about 918 ft), where the arches are divided in two levels; this part is known as the Bridge of the Devil, based on a popular legend.

It is said that in the 9th century, when the city was conquered by the Muslims, Al-Mamún of Toledo destroyed some of the arches that were restored in the 15th century by order of the Catholic Kings, who also substituted the pagan gods for the images of the Virgin and of Saint Stephen. In the last years it has suffered deterioration due to so much traffic contamination (smog), as well as the natural passing of time and the erosion of the stone, the conservation is delicately being done to this emblem which is part of the city’s Coat of Arms.

SEGOVIA
Night View of the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia