Évora Aqueduct Tour
A Renaissance Engineering Marvel
The Évora Aqueduct, known as the Aqueduto da Água de Prata, is one of the most impressive monuments in the city, especially considering its scale. It has been classified as a Portuguese National Monument since 1910.
Designed by the same royal architect behind Lisbon’s Belém Tower, Francisco de Arruda, the aqueduct was built to bring clean water to Évora from the springs of Graça do Divor. Construction began in 1531/1532 and was completed in 1537, stretching approximately 18 kilometers (about 11 miles) from source to city center, an extraordinary feat completed in just six years.
Over the centuries, some of the most notable alterations were the several fountains added along the aqueduct’s passage through the historic center, receiving water by gravity from the main channel. Today, it’s possible to walk or cycle along about 5 miles (8.3 km) of the aqueduct’s route through cork oak forests and farmland, on the marked Percurso da Água de Prata.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Built | 1531/1532–1537 |
| Architect | Francisco de Arruda |
| Total length | 18 km (approx. 11 miles) |
| National Monument since | 1910 |
| Walking/cycling route | 5 miles (8.3 km) |
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