Information
Landmark: Aqueduto da Água de PrataCity: Evora
Country: Portugal
Continent: Europe
Aqueduto da Água de Prata, Evora, Portugal, Europe
Overview
In Évora, Portugal, the Aqueduto da Água de Prata-known as the Aqueduct of Silver Water-rises in graceful arches, a stunning achievement of 16th-century engineering.King João III ordered the aqueduct’s construction to bring water into Évora, a city swelling with new streets and fresh plaster in those fast-growing years.The aqueduct runs more than 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), starting on Évora’s quiet outskirts and ending in the city’s heart, where its arches rise above narrow stone streets.The name Água de Prata, or “Silver Water,” likely points to the aqueduct’s worth and significance, not to any actual glint of silver in its flow.First.Work on the aqueduct started in 1531, with the final stones set in place by 1537.Francisco de Arruda, a leading Portuguese architect and engineer who designed projects across Portugal and Morocco, created the aqueduct.Built in the Age of Discovery, it supplied vital water to Évora-a thriving hub of trade, scholarship, and faith.Mostly Gothic with touches of Renaissance, it rises on tall, graceful arches that once carried a steady stream.The largest arches stride into the city itself, their stone catching the afternoon sun.The aqueduct’s tall arches rose high enough to span valleys and low ground along its path.Built from local stone and mortar, it was made to endure Portugal’s heat and winter rains, and it still stands in striking condition.Inside, a network of channels and reservoirs kept the water moving steadily.Clever fixes like settling tanks kept sediment out of the water, preserving the supply for years.Starting several kilometers from Évora, the aqueduct winds through open fields before slipping into the city, where in the old center its arches merge seamlessly with walls of houses and the fronts of tiny shops.By weaving the arches into the city’s design, builders created something rare-shops with stone curves overhead and homes tucked right into those sweeping spans.Many of these buildings still stand and buzz with daily life, a striking mix of old stone and modern bustle.In Évora, several fountains-fed by the aqueduct-once offered cool, fresh water to anyone who stopped to drink.Scattered across the city, some fountains-adorned with weathered statues or intricate stone carvings-still mark the aqueduct’s path.The Aqueduto da Água de Prata stands as a milestone in Portuguese engineering and a proud emblem of Évora’s historic wealth.Its link to Francisco de Arruda, famed for designing Lisbon’s Tower of Belém, deepens its place in Portugal’s Renaissance heritage.Built in an age of exploration, it showcases the ingenuity that kept growing cities alive through careful water management.Today, it remains in remarkable condition, safeguarded under Évora’s UNESCO World Heritage status.Though it no longer supplies water, the Aqueduto da Água de Prata remains a protected historical monument.Beyond Évora, its arches stretch through quiet fields, some easy to reach and others hidden under ivy or carefully restored stone.Inside the city, visitors can follow its path as it weaves between modern buildings, framing narrow streets with weathered granite.Out in the countryside, the aqueduct offers wide, open views and a real sense of its scale and craftsmanship.Guided tours share its history and lead to fountains and other landmarks tied to its past.Blending utility with elegance, it still stands as a proud emblem of Évora’s heritage.The aqueduct reveals the Renaissance’s remarkable engineering skill and reflects Portugal’s dedication to blending gracefully with both its bustling streets and the surrounding hillsides.
