Aqueduto das Águas Livres

Calçada da Quintinha, 6
1070-225 LISBOA


Opening hours:

Monday to Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm
Sundays and Public Holidays - Close

Tel: (351) 218100215
Fax: (351) 218100231
E-mail: museu@epal.pt


The Águas Livres Aqueduct (Aqueduto das Águas Livres) is the remarkable 18th century construction of a great historical meaning - it supplied Lisbon in first drinking water. It was built between 1731 and 1748, when Lisbon was under the King Joao V reigns, and designed by architects António Cannevari, Manuel da Maia and Carlos Mardel. In the world is considered as the most impressive hydraulic engineering work. It is also the one of the rarest water systems which preserved to today in such a good condition, even the great earthquake in 1755 didn't destroy this phenomenon building. In 2002 the aqueduct was designated as a National Monument. Currently it's also a part of Museu da Água exhibition.

The Aqueduct, from its source in Caneças to the Amoreiras has a length of over 18 kilometers, but together with its galleries and branches reaches in total nearly 59 kilometers. The best visible part of construction is located along the Alcântara Valley and consists of 35 arches, from which the most spectacular ones reaches even 65 meters of height and are the 29 meters wide.

In the construction of Aqueduct are distinguished three monumental sections:

Alcântara Arches - the 35 arches placed along the Alcântara Valley, it's also a great viewpoint over the valley, city and river.
Amoreiras Arch - a nine-arched arcade in a form of triumphal arch, located on Rua das Amoreiras, which formerly leaded the water from the Alcântara Valley to the Mae d'Água.
Mae d'Água - a water reservoir to receive and distribute water to Lisbon. More information about this part of Aqueduct is in the Museum section, in Museu da Água.