The Aguas Livres Aqueduct, Lisbon

The Águas Livres Aqueduct is one of Lisbon’s great engineering feats: an 18th-century aqueduct whose tall stone arches stride across the Alcântara valley. It survived the 1755 earthquake, and you can walk along the top. The water it carried ended up in the Mãe d’Água reservoir, which is also open to visitors.

Quick answer: walk across the arches over the Alcântara valley (entrance in the Campolide area), then visit the Mãe d’Água das Amoreiras reservoir, a vast stone cistern. Both are run by the water museum, with a small fee. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Check opening days before you go.

About the aqueduct

Lisbon long suffered from a lack of clean water. In the 18th century, King João V commissioned a vast aqueduct system to bring water into the city. Its arches over the Alcântara valley are among the tallest stone arches in the world, and the structure came through the 1755 earthquake largely intact.

What to see

• The arches walk: stroll along the top for views over the valley and the city.
• Mãe d’Água das Amoreiras: a cathedral-like reservoir where the water collected. It sometimes hosts exhibitions and concerts. Climb to the roof for views.
• The water museum: exhibits on Lisbon’s water supply.

Tips

• Getting there: the arches are best reached by bus or taxi. The Mãe d’Água is near Amoreiras and Rato.
• Combine with Amoreiras and Campo de Ourique. See Campo de Ourique.
• Opening days: the arches walk is not open every day.

More: unusual things to do in Lisbon and the best museums in Lisbon.

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