NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION The “Aqueduct of the Free Waters” lies in Lisbon’s suburbs, close to Parque Florestal de Monsanto DIMENSIONS Length: 3,083 ft (940 m); height 226 ft (69 m)
CONSTRUCTED 1731–48
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 52°F (11°C); Apr: 61°F (16°C); Jul: 72°F (22°C); Oct: 64°F (18°C)
With the highest pointed arch in the world, the 226-ft (69-m) Águas Livres Aqueduct is an 18th-century engineering marvel. It survived the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of Lisbon, and was still bringing water to the city in the 1960s. After walking the length of the aqueduct over the Alcântara Valley with the Sintra Express hurtling beneath, visit the nearby Water Museum.
It encompasses an 18th-century cistern – the Mãe D’Água Amoreiras – and the newer Boiler Room, housing exhibits of Lisbon’s water system.
Practical Information
Getting There and Around Lisbon’s airport is very close to the city center.
There are also buses and overnight trains from Madrid, Spain. To see the aqueduct’s finest section, take a bus (2) or a taxi from the city center.
When to Go The best months to walk the aqueduct are Mar–Jul and Sep.
There are tours on Wed and Fri.