From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aqueduct of Segovia
Aqueduct of Segovia
Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct * provincial court (Latin conventus iuridici, Spanish convento
jurídico) located in Clunia, stayed behind to settle there.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Aqueduct by night.
Country Spain
Type Cultural
Criteria i, iii, iv
Reference 311
Region ** Europe and North America
Scale model showing the aqueduct route.
Inscription history
Inscription 1985 (9th Session)
Description
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO The aqueduct transports waters from Fuente Fría river,
situated in the nearby mountains, some 17 km (11 mi)
The Aqueduct of Segovia (or more precisely, the aque- from the city in a region known as La Acebeda. It runs an-
duct bridge) is a Roman aqueduct and one of the most sig- other 15 km (9.3 mi) before arriving in the city.
nificant and best-preserved ancient monuments left on The water is first gathered in a tank known as El
the Iberian Peninsula. It is the foremost symbol of Se- Caserón (or Big House), and is then led through a channel
govia, as evidenced by its presence on the city’s coat of to a second tower known as the Casa de Aguas (or Water-
arms. house). There it is naturally decanted and sand settles out
before the water continues its route. Next the water trav-
els 728 m (796 yd) on a one-percent grade until it is high
History upon the Postigo, a rocky outcropping on which the old
As the aqueduct lacks a legible inscription (one was ap- city center, the Segovia Alcázar, was built. Then, at Plaza
parently located in the structure’s attic, or top portion), de Díaz Sanz (Díaz Sanz Square), the structure makes an
the date of construction cannot be definitively deter- abrupt turn and heads toward Plaza Azoguejo (Azogue-
mined. Researchers have placed it between the second jo Square). It is there the monument begins to display its
half of the 1st Century AD and the early years of the full splendor. At its tallest, the aqueduct reaches a height
2nd Century—during the reign of either Emperor Ves- of 28.5 m (93 ft 6 in), including nearly 6 m (19 ft 8 in) of
pasian or Nerva. The beginnings of Segovia itself are like- foundation. There are both single and double arches sup-
wise not definitively known. The people called Vaccaei ported by pillars. From the point the aqueduct enters the
are known to have populated the area before the Romans city until it reaches Plaza de Díaz Sanz, it boasts 75 single
conquered the city. Roman troops sent to control the arches and 44 double arches (or 88 arches when counted
area, which fell within the jurisdiction of the Roman individually), followed by four single arches, totalling 167
arches in all.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aqueduct of Segovia
The construction of the aqueduct follows the princi-
ples laid out by Vitruvius as he describes in his De Archi-
Subsequent history
tectura published in the mid-first century. The first reconstruction of the aqueduct took place dur-
ing the reign of the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella,
known as the Reyes Católicos or Catholic Monarchs. Don
Construction Pedro Mesa, the prior of the nearby Jerónimos del Parral
The first section of the aqueduct contains 36 semi-circu- monastery, led the project. A total of 36 arches were re-
lar arches, rebuilt in the 15th century to restore a por- built, with great care taken not to change any of the orig-
tion destroyed by the Moors in 1072. The line of arches is inal work or style. Later, in the 16th Century, the central
organized in two levels, decorated simply, in which pre- niches and above-mentioned statues were placed on the
dominantly simple moulds hold the frame and provide structure. On 4 December, the day of Saint Barbara, who
support to the structure. On the upper level, the arches is the patron saint of artillery, the cadets of the local mil-
have a total width of 5.1 meters (16.1 ft). Built in two lev- itary academy drape the image of the Virgin in a flag.
els, the top pillars are both shorter and narrower than The aqueduct is the city’s most important architec-
those on the lower level. The top of the structure con- tural landmark. It had been kept functioning throughout
tains the channel through which water travels, through the centuries and preserved in excellent condition. It
a U-shaped hollow measuring 0.55 by 0.46 meters (1.8 by provided water to Segovia, mainly to the Segovia Alcázar,
1.5 feet). The channel continuously adjusts to the base until recently. Because of differential decay of stone
height and the topography below. The lower-level arches blocks, water leakage from the upper viaduct, and pol-
have an approximate width of 4.5 meters (14.8 ft); Their lution that caused the granite ashlar masonry to dete-
pillars gradually increase in circumference size. The top riorate and crack, the site was listed in the 2006 World
of each pillar has a cross-section measuring 1.8 by 2.5 me- Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. Con-
ters (5.9 by 8.2 feet), while the base cross-section mea- trary to popular belief, vibrations caused by traffic that
sures approximately 2.4 by 3 meters (7.9 by 9.8 feet). used to pass under the arches did not affect the aqueduct
due to its great mass. WMF Spain brought together the
Ministry of Culture, the regional government of Castilla
y León, and other local institutions to collaborate in im-
plementing the project, and provided assistance through
the global financial services company American Ex-
Principal facade of the Aqueduct of Segovia. press.[1]
The aqueduct is built of unmortared, brick-like gran-
ite blocks. During the Roman era, each of the three tallest
arches displayed a sign in bronze letters, indicating the
name of its builder along with the date of construction.
Today, two niches are still visible, one on each side of
the aqueduct. One of them is known to have held the im-
age of Hercules, who according to legend was founder of
the city. The other niche now contains the images of the
Virgen de la Fuencisla (the Patroness of Segovia) and Saint
Stephen.
View of the aqueduct from below. Detail of one of the restored portions of the aqueduct.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aqueduct of Segovia
References • Club de Amigos del Acueducto (Spanish)
• Aqueduct of Segovia - Information and photos.
[1] World Monuments Fund - Aqueduct of Segovia • 600 Roman aqueducts with 35 descriptions in detail
among which the Segovia aqueduct
See also • World Monuments Fund - Acueducto de Segovia
(Spanish)
• List of aqueducts in the Roman Empire
• Norma Barbacci, "Saving Segovia’s Aqueduct," ICON Coordinates: 40°56′52.8″N 4°07′03.72″W / 40.948°N
Magazine, Winter 2006/2007, p. 38-41. 4.1177°W / 40.948; -4.1177
External links
Media related to Aqueduct of Segovia at Wikimedia
Commons
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aqueduct_of_Segovia&oldid=457169371"
Categories:
• World Heritage Sites in Spain
• Buildings and structures in Segovia
• Roman aqueducts outside Rome
• Roman bridges in Spain
• Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks
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