Aqueduct of Segovia
Acueducto de Segovia | |
Location | Segovia, Spain |
---|---|
Type | Roman aqueduct |
History | |
Material | Granite |
Europe and North America | |
Official name | Aqueduct |
Type | Non-movable |
Criteria | Monument |
Designated | 11 October 1884 |
Reference no. | RI-51-0000043 |
The Aqueduct of Segovia (Spanish: Acueducto de Segovia) is a Roman aqueduct in Segovia, Spain. It was built around the first century AD to channel water from springs in the mountains 17 kilometres (11 mi) away to the city's fountains, public baths and private houses, and was in use until 1973. Its elevated section, with its complete arcade of 167 arches, is one of the best-preserved Roman aqueduct bridges and the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. The Old Town of Segovia and the aqueduct, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
History
As the aqueduct lacks a legible
The beginnings of Segovia are also not definitively known. The Arevaci people are known to have populated the area before it was conquered by the Romans. Roman troops sent to control the area stayed behind to settle there. The area fell within the jurisdiction of the Roman provincial court (Latin conventus iuridici, Spanish convento jurídico) located in Clunia.
Description
The aqueduct once transported water from the Rio Frio River, situated in the mountains 17 km (11 mi) from the city in the La Acebeda region. It runs 15 km (9.3 mi) before arriving in the city.
The construction of the aqueduct follows the principles laid out by
The water was first gathered in a tank known as El Caserón (or Big House), and was then led through a channel to a second tower known as the Casa de Aguas (or Waterhouse). There it was naturally
To reach the old city, the water is conveyed by its aqueduct bridge. At Plaza de Díaz Sanz, the structure makes an abrupt turn and heads toward Plaza Azoguejo. It is there the monument begins to display its full splendor. At its tallest, the aqueduct reaches a height of 28.5 m (93 ft 6 in), including nearly 6 m (19 ft 8 in) of foundation. There are both single and double arches supported by pillars. From the point the aqueduct enters the city until it reaches Plaza de Díaz Sanz, it includes 75 single arches and 44 double arches (or 88 arches when counted individually), followed by four single arches, totalling 167 arches in all.
The first section of the aqueduct contains 36 semi-circular arches, rebuilt in the 15th century to restore a portion destroyed by the Moors in 1072. The line of arches is organized in two levels, decorated simply, in which simple moulds hold the frame and provide support to the structure. On the upper level, the arches are 5.1 metres (16.1 ft) wide. Built in two levels, the top pillars are both shorter and narrower than those on the lower level. The top of the structure contains the channel through which water travels, through a U-shaped hollow measuring 0.55 tall by 0.46 metre diameter. The top of each pillar has a cross-section measuring 1.8 by 2.5 metres (5.9 by 8.2 feet), while the base cross-section measures 2.4 by 3 metres (7.9 by 9.8 feet).
The aqueduct is built of
Distribution of the water
Within the walled city there was a distribution system via a deposit called a castellum aquae. While the details of this system are not fully known, it has been established that the water followed a subterranean route. The main channel has been marked on the city's pavements.[3]
Subsequent
The first reconstruction of the aqueduct took place during the reign of the
The aqueduct is the city's most important architectural landmark. It had been kept functioning throughout the centuries and preserved in excellent condition. It provided water to Segovia until the mid 19th century.[4] Because of differential decay of stone blocks, water leakage from the upper viaduct, and pollution that caused the granite ashlar masonry to deteriorate and crack, the site was listed in the 2006 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund (WMF). Contrary to popular belief, vibrations caused by traffic that used to pass under the arches did not affect the aqueduct due to its great mass.[citation needed] WMF Spain brought together the Ministry of Culture, the regional government of Castilla y León, and other local institutions to collaborate in implementing the project, and provided assistance through the global financial services company American Express.[5]
Interpretation
One of the buildings of Segovia's former mint, the Real Casa de Moneda, houses an aqueduct interpretation centre, developed with funding from European Economic Area grants.[6]
There is a connection between the mint and the aqueduct in that coins minted in Segovia used the aqueduct as a mint mark. Another link is that the building provided for the mint in the 16th century harnessed water power to drive its machinery, although the water is taken directly from the River Eresma rather than sourced from the aqueduct.[6]
See also
- List of aqueducts in the Roman Empire
- List of Roman aqueducts by date
- Ancient Roman technology
- Roman engineering
References
- ^ "Géza Alföldy: Die Inschrift des Aquäduktes von Segovia" (PDF).
- ^ Aurelio Martín (31 October 2016). "El hallazgo de un sestercio cambia la edad del acueducto de Segovia". El País (in Spanish).
- ^ "El acueducto soterrado" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-07-03.
- ^ Turespña (2006-01-31). "The Segovia Aqueduct in Spain". Spain.info. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
- ^ "Aqueduct of Segovia | World Monuments Fund". www.wmf.org. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
- ^ a b "Aqueduct, Mint Mark, Emblem of Segovia". casamonedasegovia.es/museo. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
External links
- Club de Amigos del Acueducto (in Spanish)
- Norma Barbacci, "Saving Segovia's Aqueduct," ICON Magazine, Winter 2006/2007, p. 38–41.
- Aqueduct of Segovia – Information and photos.
- 600 Roman aqueducts with 35 descriptions in detail among which the Segovia aqueduct
- World Monuments Fund – Acueducto de Segovia (in Spanish)
- American Society of Civil Engineers - International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark