Free Water Aqueduct Cultural Walking Tour

Come and visit and admire this notable engineering work that the Portuguese left to mankind, performing the passage between the Alcântara Valey Aqueduct to the Mãe d’Água (wellhead) at Amoreiras.

The intention of construction of the Aqueduct begins to take place with the idea to take the water from the springs of Free Water at Belas to the town of Lisbon, during the kingdoms of D. Manuel, D. João II and D. Sebastião. In 1571, Francisco de Holanda, in order to garantee the water supply to the capital, proposed to the king D. Sebastião the reconstruction of an aqueduct and of the ancient Roman dam of Olíssipo. Only during the kingdom of D. João V, in the middle of the 18th Century it was decided to go ahead with the construction; its costs were entirely supported by the population of Lisbon, by means of taxation over the meat, olive oil and wine.

The project and construction of the aqueduct are due essentialy to the merit of brigadier Manuel da Maia, sergeant major Custódio Vieira, engineering captain Carlos Mardel and the town procurator, Cláudio Gorgel do Amaral, to their determination to solve the problem of the water supply to the town of Lisbon. The king D. João V, Saturnian by devotion, signed on 12th May 1731, a Saturday, the royal decree for the construction of the Royal Aqueduct of Ágoas Livres. Time elapsed and the works were initiated under the direction of architect Manuel da Maia and sergeant major Custódio de Vieira. Altough it started to supply water to a fountain network in the town of Lisbon from 1748 onwards, it was concluded in 1834 only.

The “Aqueduto das Águas Livres” holds a unique knowledge and wisdom, a notable hidraulic work, an unparallel beauty, the work of uncountable masons who cut the stones into their shape, the only dark chamber monument ever built that allows the reflection of the exterior landscape in an interplay of colour, light, shadow, scent that is close to the sacred and never separates us from the Whole. A double system of distribution of water that the Portuguese left to mankind.

IMPORTANT:
- Minimum of 4 adults,
- Groups of less than 4 adults are accepted but price is the same as for 4 adults.

ITENERARY:
- Meeting at Entry of the Aqueduct
- Guided visit to the Aqueduct passing through Vale de Alcântara and visiting Arc D. João V and Mãe d' Água - Amoreiras
- Snack at Amoreiras Garden (Jardim das Amoreiras)