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Monument · Elvas, Portalegre
Aqueduto da Amoreira
Stone aqueduct of about 8.5 km that carries water from the Amoreira to the center of Elvas, with arcades up to 31 meters high where it reaches the town. Built between the 16th and 17th centuries, it is part of the World Heritage ensemble.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Aqueduto da Amoreira
The Aqueduto da Amoreira brings water from the Amoreira spring to the center of Elvas over a course of about 8.5 km. Work began in the reign of Dom Manuel I, in the early 16th century, to replace the old well that supplied the town, and water reached the Fonte da Misericórdia in 1622 after nearly a century of work.
Most of the route is unobtrusive, in an underground channel or on low walls. The striking stretch is at the approach to the town, west of the walls: there the aqueduct crosses the valley on overlapping arcades, with up to five tiers of arches and towers exceeding 30 meters in height. More than 800 arches are counted along the route.
The aqueduct has been a National Monument since 1910 and is part of the ensemble classified by UNESCO in 2012 as the border garrison town of Elvas and its fortifications. It still stands beside the road entering the town from the west, and you can walk alongside the pillars and photograph the arcades from below.
Inside the walls, the water reached fountains such as the Fonte da Misericórdia, near the Praça da República. Seeing the aqueduct from the outside and then finding the water’s arrival point helps understand the scale of the work for a border town that had to withstand sieges.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 minutes to 1 hour to see the highest arcades and walk alongside the pillars.
Best time
At late afternoon, when the low light illuminates the stone, or early in the morning in summer before the heat.
How to get there
The highest arcades are on the west side of the town, by the access road coming from the motorway, about a 10-minute walk from the gates of the walls.
Tip
To see the five tiers of arches head a little out into the fields. The aqueduct is outdoors and can be viewed at any time.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Aqueduto da Amoreira
How long is the Aqueduto da Amoreira?
About 8.5 km, from the Amoreira spring to the centre of Elvas, with arches reaching up to 31 metres in height as they enter the city.
How long did the construction take?
About a century: work began in the early 16th century, and the water reached the Fonte da Misericórdia in 1622.
Can you walk on the Aqueduto da Amoreira?
No. The Aqueduto is viewed from below and from the outside, beside the arches, in the open air.
Is the aqueduct part of the World Heritage?
Yes. It is included in the Elvas ensemble designated by UNESCO in 2012, together with the walls and the forts.