Aqueduto das Águas Livres

Lisbon


The 109 arches of the Aqueduto das Águas Livres lope across the hills into Lisbon from Caneças, more than 18km away; they are most spectacular at Campolide, where the tallest arch is an incredible 65m high. Built between 1731 and 1799, by order of Dom João V, the aqueduct brought Lisbon its first clean drinking water. Its more sinister claim to fame is as the site where 19th-century mass-murderer Diogo Alves pushed his victims over the edge.

Another of the best places to see the aqueduct is in the leafy Praça das Amoreiras next to the Mãe d'Água.

Contact Lisbon's Museu de Agua (details are on the EPAL website) for guided tours and information in season.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lisbon attractions

1. Estufas

0.61 MILES

Tucked away in a pocket of Parque Eduardo VII, this trio of glasshouses nurtures tree ferns and camellias in the estufa fría (cool greenhouse), coffee and…

2. Praça das Amoreiras

0.63 MILES

One of the best places to see the Águas Livres aqueduct is in the leafy Praça das Amoreiras.

4. Mãe d’Água

0.69 MILES

The king laid the Aqueduto das Águas Livres’ final stone at Mãe d’Água, the city’s massive 5500-cu-metre main reservoir. Completed in 1834, the reservoir…

5. Jardim Amália Rodrigues

0.7 MILES

This tiny pocket of pond-dotted greenery, named after the famous fadista (fado singer), is home to Fernando Botero's voluptuous bronze sculpture…

6. Casa Fernando Pessoa

0.71 MILES

Immerse yourself in the life and work of Portuguese modernist founder and author Fernando Pessoa as you wander through his old apartment, browse through…

7. Parque Eduardo VII

0.78 MILES

An urban oasis with British roots, Parque Eduardo VII is named after his highness Edward VII, who visited Lisbon in 1903. The sloping parterre affords…

8. Cemitério dos Ingleses

0.81 MILES

Overgrown with cypress trees, the Cemitério dos Ingleses was founded in 1717. Expats at rest here include Henry Fielding (author of Tom Jones), who died…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "portugal/lisbon/attractions/aqueduto-das-aguas-livres/a/poi-sig/400909/360366",
      "destination": "Lisbon",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Portugal",
      "city": "Lisbon",
      "position": "superzone"
    }