LISBON AQUEDUCT
An indestructible feat of engineering
Built in 1746 to bring the city its first clean drinking water, Lisbon's
remarkable aqueduct is made up of 109 stone arches, which were the tallest
stone arches in the world when they were built. Its total length is 58km
(36 miles), but the most visible part are the 14 arches crossing the
Alcantara Valley (the best views are from Campolide train station), the
tallest of which rise to a spectacular 65m (213ft) from the ground with a
span of 29m (95ft). Astoundingly, it all survived the 1755 earthquake.
The Water Museum and the Mãe de Agua reservoir explain this rare and
complex 18th century water supply system, a space that was awarded the
Council of Europe Museum Prize in 1990. The cool stone chamber of the Mãe de
Agua site is also often used for art exhibitions.
Get a 50% discount on admission to the Water Museum and ride Lisbon's metro and buses for
free with the Lisboa Card.
How to Visit
Where: Praça das Amoreiras, 10 Uptown
How: Metro - Rato Station for the museum; Campolide train station for views of the aqueduct.
When: 10AM-6PM (Closed Sundays)
What: museudaagua.epal.pt
Sights Nearby
Arpad Szenes - Vieira da Silva Museum - The gallery of two great 20th-century artists.
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