The aqueduct of Segovia is a legacy of the ancient Romans. When and why was the aqueduct built in Segovia (Spain)?

Segovia is one of the oldest cities in Spain. It was first mentioned as a Celtic settlement, which was captured in 80 BC. After that, the city remained under the control of the Roman Empire for a long time, up to the invasion of Muslims into Spain. In their hands and passed Segovia, which turned into a devastated site. The former greatness of the city was returned only in the XI century, when it became the most important center of trade and culture of the country. Now about the reign of the Romans recalls the majestic aqueduct of Segovia.

The highest and majestic

The aqueduct was built around the 1st-2nd century BC. In this era, the city was under the protectorate of the Roman Empire, and, in all likelihood, it was built under the emperor Nerv or Vespasian. The most important feature of the structure is that it was built without a mortar or some other fasteners. Incredibly, almost 21,000 granite blocks are kept only under the weight of their gravity. It was created with arches of different sizes. The aqueduct of Segovia is a unique graceful building that immediately catches your eye.

Similar objects built by the Romans, in Europe there are 800, but the aqueduct of Segovia is considered the longest of them. Its length reaches 815 meters, and height - 30 m.

History of construction

This aqueduct is considered the most important symbol of the city. He even found his display on the Segovia coat of arms. This amazing structure was created under the strict control of the mechanic Vitruvius. This scientist later decided to lay out the aqueduct project in his book "Architecture", in particular, in the section "Plumbing systems".

The aqueduct in Segovia (Spain) was provided from the mountain river Fuentefria flowing in 17 km. At 15 km from the village, its water was taken to the reservoir, which was called "El Caserón", and from there flowed onto the water tower of the Casa de Aguas. From the tower on a chute, which is literally cut from the stone, under a small slope, water drained into the central part of the city and then spread through other gutters that are located along the streets of Segovia. In this tricky way, the water flow reached the fortress of the Alcazar and went further to the Diaz Sanz square, at this point the aqueduct turned to the Azoguiejo square. There was also an arcade and a two-tiered bridge.

Modifications of the aqueduct

In 1072, after the Moors attacked the city, several arches of the aqueduct were destroyed. After the arrival of the Catholic kings to power, the building was reconstructed for the first time. Later in the 15th century, under Pedro Mess, the destroyed details were restored to the surviving sketches, and some elements were replaced by new structures of pointed form.

During the Roman Empire, the aqueduct in Segovia on the upper tiers was decorated with bronze letters, which meant the date, as well as the name of the builder, but eventually they disappeared. It is known that on the two upper niches on both sides of the aqueduct were previously bronze statues. One of the sculptures depicted the Egyptian Hercules, according to legend, it is he who is considered the founder of the city. On two other niches were statues of St. Esteban and the Virgin of Fusensla (patroness of the city).

The next restoration of the Roman aqueduct in Segovia was exposed in the XVI century. This time, only two statues have been recreated - the Virgin of Fusensilla and Saint Esteban.

National Monument

Since 1884, the aqueduct has been declared a national architectural monument. Until recently, he acted and safely supplied the city with water. Since 1997, a major reconstruction of the ancient structure took place, during which the object almost completely acquired its original appearance. These works were headed by the assistant professor of architectural school of Madrid Francis Jurado. These events lasted as long as 8 years.

Value

The aqueduct of Segovia (Spain) is the most important monument not only of the city, but of the whole country. For many centuries it functioned uninterruptedly and provided the settlement with water. Apparently, this contributed to the fact that this hydraulic object is perfectly preserved to our days.

The aqueduct has two rows of arches, which are located on poles. The total building has 166 arches. 75 of them are directed towards Diaz Sanz Square, followed by simple ones, and after them 47 more double are stretched.

Recently, the condition of the aqueduct deteriorated strongly, erosion of granite stones was observed. This is due, in general, to environmental pollution. Until 1992, under the arches of an ancient building, cars could still pass. Strange as it may seem, the vibrations that caused the traffic did not affect the majestic aqueduct at all due to the huge mass of stones, as well as the inertia of the structure. For the time of restoration since 1997, the area where the aqueduct is located has become a pedestrian zone.

In the spotlight

For several years, this ancient architectural monument is a place for various festive events. December 4, every year in the city celebrate the day of St. Barbara, who is considered the patroness of artillery. On this holiday, representatives of the church and cadets next to the aqueduct pierce the platform with the face of the Virgin. Arches on its two floors are decorated in a special style, standing out against the sky.

Legend

From time immemorial about the aqueduct in Segovia goes one amazing legend. There was a very beautiful girl in the city, but she was very poor. In order to feed herself somehow, she carried water from a mountain river every day to a wealthy aristocrat. Once the beautiful maiden woke up and realized that she no longer had the strength to carry heavy buckets, and, crouching on a stone, she began to pray to the devil himself, so that he would ease her fate. At night, he came to her and said that until the morning he would create such a structure that would provide the whole city with water, and the poor girl would never have to tear herself up and carry heavy buckets of water, but in return she had to give her soul. She certainly did not know what an aqueduct was, and at first did not believe such promises, but she had no choice but to accept the conditions of the devil. After the conclusion of such a trace, the beauty regretted what she had done and began to ask the Virgin Mary to save her soul. The Virgin felt sorry for the girl, and before the evil forces laid the last stone on the aqueduct, she forgave her, thus breaking the deal. By morning the girl's soul was saved.

Now, on an ancient hydraulic facility near the statue of the Virgin Fuensyll really does not have one stone. But as you understand, the ancient legend is, of course, just a beautiful myth.

How to get to the aqueduct?

To reach this majestic structure can be in different ways. The car should go along Route 6 through the tunnels of the Sierra de Guadarrama. A bus from Madrid to the city of Segovia can be reached by seated at the Principe Pio station. Also there is the possibility to get by high-speed train from Madrid, which stops at the station Guiomar (it is 4 km from the center of Segovia).

If in Italy it is necessary to see the Coliseum, then the visiting card of its western neighbor can well be called an aqueduct. Spain can show you a lot of amazing, but this magnificent hydraulic structure, which is more than 2000 years old, is particularly striking. It stood for so long thanks to an amazing literate calculation of Roman architects and builders. Let's hope that it will be able to stand still for at least 1000 years.