Segontia - Segovia
It was conquered by Rome in the year 96 b.C., which considered it an important point to control the access to Duero valley. From that domination rested the monument that constitutes its distinguishing mark: the aquaeduct. |
AQUAEDUCT OF SEGOVIA
I A.C. Century
One
of the most emblematic monuments that make up the image of spanish heritage in the world
and that was declared by UNESCO
world heritage in 1985.
It is also one of the most complete work in
the world inside its kind.
Aquaeduct with two floors and 128 semicirculars
arches, still in operation in this century.
It measures 728 meters long and 28 high. It was built with huge ashlars of granite whitout
mortar. These ashlars were raised using some hooks that close with the own weight of
the stone over little notches previously worked.
It takes water from the source of Riofrío river
in the Guadarrama Mountains about 18 Km. long from Segovia. Its built probably was
ordered by Domitian about 90 a.C. and ended by Trajano.
Recently has suffered an
important and careful work of restauration priced it in 1 billion pesetas from
various institutions and administrations. The works has been directed by the architect
Francisco Jurado. During the restauration, was detected that the main agressor was
the acid environment caused be the traffic and atmospheric contamination, producing more
damages in the last 50 years than in the 1850 before.
With the restauration,
was remodeled Azoguejo Square, where it is placed and the traffic that drived
before below its archs, was diverted from. Also a plumber channel was placed over the top
to let water run across and in this way, recover its original job. And study was made
also, over the latin inscription that was placed in the central wall of which only was the
holes caused to nail the brass letters. The deciphered of the inscription was made by the
german investigator Géza Alföldy and the latin phrase said:
IMP(ERATORIS) NERVAE TRAIANI CAES(ARIS) AUG(USTI) GERM(ANICI), P(ONTIFICIS) M(AXIMI), TR(IBUNICIA) P(OTESTAE) II, CO(N)S(ULIS) II, PATRIS PATRIAE IUSSU / P(UBLIUS) MUMMIUS MUMMIANUS ET P(UBLIUS) FABIUS TAURUS IIVIRI MUNIC(IPII) FL(AVII) SEGOVIENSIUM ACQUAM / RESTITUERUNT. |
"Por orden del Emperador Nerva Traianus Caesar Augustus Germanicus, pontífice máximo, dotado del poder tribunicio por segunda vez, cónsul por segunda vez, padre de la Patria, Publio Fabio Tauro, los dos alcaldes del municipio flavio de los segovianos, reconstruyeron el acueducto."
| How to go: Let N-VI motorway by the San Rafael exit and take N-603 road. |
