Legend and Facts of Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain
As I stepped foot in Segovia, a small city in central Spain, I was immediately captivated by the sight that greeted us: the majestic aqueduct of Segovia. Rising proudly from the cobblestone streets, it stood as a testament to the engineering prowess of the ancient Romans.
The aqueduct stretched out before us, its colossal arches reaching towards the sky. The sheer scale of the structure was awe-inspiring, with its massive stones stacked one upon another, defying gravity with precision and stability. It was as if the spirit of the Roman Empire still echoed through the ages, whispering tales of ingenuity and architectural mastery.
Did I touch the aqueduct of Segovia? Oh! YES! I did! Something so old… it was like connecting back to first century AD!
Aqueduct of Segovia facts and legends
Walking closer, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence for the history that surrounded us. This aqueduct, believed to have been constructed in the 1st century AD, had withstood the test of time, weathering countless storms and witnessing the passage of centuries. It was a living monument, connecting the present to a distant past.
I marveled at the craftsmanship that had gone into its creation. Each stone was carefully carved and placed, forming a perfect symphony of arches that spanned nearly 900 m. The precision of the Roman engineers was evident in every detail, as if they had meticulously measured and planned every aspect of this architectural marvel.
The whole of Segovia is full of history but this one just stands out – both visibly and literally! It is still in good shape considering its age at 20 centuries or should I say 2000 years old.
Things like this numb me. The first breathtaking sight I got as I walked out of the parking lot is etched clearly in mind and will remain there for a long time.
There is one layer of arches and on top of that runs another layer of arches of smaller dimension. They seemed like cards stacked one above the other. How does it balance itself, I wondered!
Aqueduct of Segovia Facts and Legends
Aqueduct of Segovia Facts
In 1985, UNESCO formally recognized the mesmerizing harmony of Segovia’s old town and the impressive beauty of its aqueduct by declaring them both World Heritage Sites.
The aqueduct runs fourteen kilometers long made entirely of hand cut granite rocks, I read later. The aqueduct has 167 arches chiseled out from the 24,000 dark-coloured granite stones of the Guadarrama Mountains.
Aqueduct of Segovia kept functioning centuries after centuries and is preserved in excellent condition. It provided water to Segovia until the mid 19th century.
Aqueduct of Segovia facts and legends
Legend of the Aqueduct of Segovia
Spaniards have an interesting legend that goes with the construction of this mammoth figure.
It is the legend of a serving girl who used to climb every day, to the very top of the mountain and return with her pitcher full of water.
One day, fed up and tired of this daily toil, she made a wish to the Devil. She asked the Devil to build some means by which she would no longer need to go up and down every morning with her pitcher.
Lucifer the devil granted her wish, asking for her soul in return if he managed to finish the aqueduct before the cockerel crowed.
The girl agreed and the Devil began to build the aqueduct. As he was almost completing it the girl regretted her decision and appealed to God, praying to upset the devil’s plan.
A scary thunderstorm erupted, hindering the devil from carrying huge stones. Just as he was about to lay the last stone, the cockerel crowed, meaning the Devil lost his wager and the girl kept her soul.
In the gap that remained, the statue of the Virgin of Fuencisla, patroness of the city, stands today.
Interesting! Isn’t it!
View from Aqueduct Segovia
Brilliant Example of Roman Engineering
But the fact remains engineers of Roman era were brilliant and highly talented. The Aqueduct of Segovia served the practical purpose of transporting water from the Rio Frio River about 17 km away from the mountains. There is an inscription on the top of the aqueduct which states its origin.
List of Aqueducts I Have Visited
I have seen three aqueducts in Portugal. They were in Evora, Elvas and Tomar. I saw one more in Spain in Merida.
This aqueduct of Segovia is included in the list of 10 most beautiful Roman aqueducts in the world. You can see the entire list here: 10 Most Beautiful Roman Aqueducts. I have seen 2 in this list. How many have you seen?
Photography of Segovia Aqueduct
The best place to view this monument is at the Plaza del Azoguejo, the hub of the Old Town. We climbed the steep stairs that rise by the side of the aqueduct to go up and reached the level of the top of the aqueduct.
This aqueduct reaches its maximum height of 28 meters here. From this spot we could get a great view of the small town below. If you wish to just see and walk away it will hardly take any time, because it is there for all to see for free.
I suggest keep aside at least an hour to explore this Roman structure.
FAQ about Segovia Aqueduct
How tall is the aqueduct of Segovia?
The aqueduct of Segovia stands approximately 28.5 m tall at its highest point.
When was the aqueduct of Segovia built?
The aqueduct of Segovia was built during the 1st century AD, around the late 1st century or early 2nd century.
How many levels do the aqueducts in Segovia have?
The Segovia viaduct consists of two levels of arches.
What’s an aqueduct?
An aqueduct is a structure designed to transport water over a long distance using a series of arches or channels. It was commonly used in ancient civilizations to supply water to cities or areas lacking a natural water source.
Who built the aqueduct of Segovia?
The aqueduct was built by the ancient Romans.
How long did it take to build the aqueduct of Segovia?
The exact time it took to build the Segovia viaduct is not known, but it is estimated that construction likely took several years.
How long is the Segovia Aqueduct?
The aqueduct of Segovia spans approximately 900 m in length.
How old is the Roman aqueduct of Segovia?
The Roman aqueduct is over 1,900 years old, as it was built in the 1st century AD.
How was the aqueduct of Segovia built?
The aqueduct of Segovia was constructed using large stone blocks without the use of mortar. The precision of the Roman engineers ensured that the stones fit together tightly. Thus forming the impressive arches and allowing the aqueduct to stand strong for centuries.
Parting thoughts
As I stood beneath one of the arches, I couldn’t help but imagine the bustling life that once thrived around it. Centuries ago, this aqueduct carried water from the nearby mountains to supply the needs of the city, sustaining its inhabitants and nourishing their daily lives. It was a lifeline, a lifeline that had endured for centuries.
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It was an interesting story, and I admire that these aqueducts standly proud for all these years. I wonder what is the real purpose of old people by building aqueducts?
Such a great piece of history! I love that UNESCO honors the area as well. I also wish we could see it in action 😛 incredible what people created during a time where technology was so limited.
It is amazing that the aqueduct actually worked until mid 19th century and that it is still in perfect conditions! I wonder why they’ve stopped it, I think it would be amazing to see the water running. I have never seen such an impressive aqueduct before and i can’t believe it runs for 14 km!
I haven’t seen this one, but a couple of aqueducts in France. I share your opinion: they are huge! And I am always impressed when thinking how did they build it without all the advanced tools we have nowadays!
What an interesting story. The victory of good over evil and the reason for the statue on the Aqueduct. Indeed an intriguing place. I am totally inspired to visit Spain…thanks to all your posts.
What an interesting legend! Funny how she prayed and God decided that he wanted to mess up the devil’s plan. I find that when I get to know the story of a building, it makes the trip so much more interesting. I’m a little bummed that I won’t be finishing my year off in Spain so these photos of the architecture will have to suffice!
I just learned about these aqueducts earlier this year and I have been wanting to go ever since. I haven’t been to any aqueducts on the 10 best list, but it looks like this one would be a good place to start!
Haven’t been to Segovia, but these ruins look spactacular and the story behind it is really interesting. Thanks for sharing this!
Wow, I had very little time in Spain and couldn’t really appreciate much of what this country has to offer. Segovia is new to me and it looks incredible. The ruins are spectacular and bring character to the area.
Segovia is so incredibly beautiful! I couldn’t find a CouchSurfing host for a few nights I was planning on spending in Madrid, so I ended up in Segovia instead and I’m so glad I did. The view of the city from above was stunning and there are so many charming things to see, like the aqueduct.
I used to do B2B marketing for water engineering firms and fundraising for university water research, so now I’m a bit of a nerd about it for life. Seeing the aqueduct was very cool.
14 kilometres of hand cut grant rocks to make 147 arches? That is some serious skill and dedication. How it manages to stay strong and architecturally timeless over 20 centuries escapes me. Fantastic post.
I’m always blown away by the amazing structures from the Roman era too – the talent which went into the engineering especially at the time, and the fact that they’re so wide spread across Europe is so impressive!
Utterly beautiful and hard to believe it is 20 centuries old. I must read up more on aqueducts now. Loved the legend always fascinates me hearing stories from the locals.
An architectural marvel of epic proportions! Reminds me of the pont du Gard in Greece!
A very different sight to behold, and its own fairytale story for a background! I had to look up what aqueduct meant lol. Loved that you had a dose of history and local culture in your post, thanks for sharing 🙂
This looks like one of the best aqueducts I have seen! Loved learning about the history – you’d never guess it was 2000 years old!
What an interesting story of the serving girl. I love this kind of deep, intelligent travel with cultural stories!!
Fascinating story. Really interesting reading about the God and the devil. In any case, the aqueducts are incredible and the engineering is magnificent. Would love to see these at some point. Thanks for sharing.
If it were me, it would numb me too, just seeing places and structures of hundreds years old, let alone 2000 years old. From the list, I’ve seen Valens Aqueduct in Istanbul, Turkey and it took my breath away even from afar.
The architecture is so amazing and this is a place I really want to visit. I have seen the pictures and every time I am in awe of it. The grandness and the way it stands out makes it a definite must see.
This is the second article I found this week about this aqueduct. Maybe it’s a sign and I must add Segovia to my list of places to visit. Your description is very thorough and the pictures really do the job depicting the magnificence of the structure.
It’s lovely to learn about the history and facts! Spain is indeed so beautiful in its architectural domain! Lovely captures!
I really wanted to visit Segovia on my last trip to Spain but couldn’t fit it in. The aqueduct is amazing!
I was there some years ago and thought it w as amazing. Segovia is a brilliant town and an easy day trip from Madrid.
I love how you describe seeing the aqueduct for the first time. It’s easy to sense your curiosity and love for historical sights. The only Roman aqueduct I’ve seen is the Pont du Gard in France. There are actually a few other Roman ruins nearby that are worth seeing, too. Segovia looks like a fantastic place to visit. I love UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It is a really amazing sight to see! I remember pulling up to the first place I stopped on a trip in Israel which was an aquaduct, and it was just as moving of an experience as you had. It’s just this really old part of history that’s so cool to be a part of, even so many thousands of years later.
As an engineer, Roman aqueducts have always fascinated me. I know that many of them are still standing and working. What I didn’t know was that Segovia has perhaps the most beautiful one. What surprised me even more is that it wasn’t until 1985 that it was recognized as a heritage site. Thank you for taking me someplace amazing today.
Wow, I’ve always wanted to visit here and this post has definitely made me want to visit even more. The architecture is so fascinating to look at and the history of course is interesting as well. Especially how it has managed to hold up and be preserved for such a long period of time!
I’ve always wanted to visit this aquaduct in person and the city is so inspiring, I still have it on my checklist of amazing ancient cities to visit.
That’s an interesting description – like a stacked deck of cards. It looks stunning, even in photos. Thanks to that unknown serving girl for making this aqueduct possible.
I’ve yet to make it to Segovia, such a beautiful part of Spain.
We’ve seen the Pont du Gard near Avignon. Most impressive if you think with what basic tools they built it. Traveling parts of Africa I’d like the people to be more enterprising like the Romans instead of carrying their buckets of water kilometers far. #TPThursday
I can see why you’re so fascinated by these aqueduct, it’s impressive the structure has held up so long with so many levels. The last one with a person reading really puts into perspective the size of the aqueduct.
The architecture is beautifully capture, I commend you on that.
xoxo – Chaicy
Style.. A Pastiche
Wow! That’s one interesting legend and very spectacular aqueduct
superb architecture. nicely captured too.
Lovely shots of the aqueduct. And I enjoyed the legend that goes with it.
I’ve been to Segovia and agree that the aqueduct is astounding. The way it has stuck together over time – the devil must have been a good stone mason lol. Love the Legend and smart thinking on the girl’s behalf.
Beautiful sculptures.. you have portrayed them very nicely 🙂
I’ve always wanted to see Roman aqueducts! 😀 The architecture is amazing! 😀
It is strikingly beautiful !
Just seeing your photos of the aqueduct numbs me with awe. I would’ve touched it, too!
Take 25 to Hollister
Amazingly strong yet beautiful Aqueducts ; Thanks for introducing this Amazing Structure to me 🙂 Lovely Pics and Informative Read.
Wonderful images Indrani.
I was speechless when I visited Segovia. It is hard to believe the aqueduct is still standing after 2,000 years.
Wonderful place. I guess nowhere such structures are seen.
Beautiful structure- seems delicate yet strong at the same time
It still amazes me the staying power of all these structures. It is beautiful.
I almost get the chills – a physical response, just as you said of yourself – when I am greeted by something this old and impressive. This is a great post and I share your enthusiasm for aqueducts (and all other construction) that date back 2000 years!
impressive structure. great shots.
Wonderful heritage structure ! Great piece of history attached dating back to 1st century ! Lovely pictures .
Amazing!!
That’s such a huge and impressive structure. Too bad they don’t make aqueducts like this any more.
wow! What an amazing structure. Gorgeous captures 🙂
Seems like a great place Indrani; thanks for sharing!
That is an interesting structure and an even more interesting story behind it. I wonder if the Hampi one was as impressive, though it does seem so
What an amazing and gigantic structure. Good pics Indrani.
My count of aquaducts is firmly stuck at zero!
Looks like an architectural delight. Superb pictures!
That looks so beautiful.
Oh, wow! I would love to see this. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Loved the stone arches…
Interesting. Greats pics, indrani 🙂
Wanna visit!
14 Kms long! That’s very very long. Really a brilliant piece of engineering work. Great captures and very well written.
What an amazing structure! Worth a visit! Lovely captures!
Heritage! Such sites left us wondering how ancient people manage to hand craft stone so precisely without any machines.
Amazing architecture… was not aware of this place earlier.. thanks for sharing!!!
Nice read, shots are very nice.
Lovely pictures of this amazing structure! The legend is also fascinating!
Hello, the aqueduct is an amazing structure and a wonderful heritage site.
Happy Sunday, enjoy your new week ahead!