Aqueduct Of Pegoes

The Aqueduto dos Pegões is one of the great pieces of water engineering in Portugal, a long line of arches that brings water to the Convent of Christ in Tomar. The hill on which the convent stands is high above the river, and its community, which grew large in the 16th century under the Order of Christ, needed a reliable supply of water that the springs on the hill could not provide. In the late 16th century, when Portugal was under the Spanish crown of Philip II, a project was begun to bring water from springs at a distance of several kilometres. The work was carried out from the 1590s, and it was completed in the early 17th century.

The aqueduct runs for about six kilometres, following the contours of the land and crossing valleys on arches. Most of its length is low and made of simple stone arcades, but at one place, in a deep valley known as the Pegões, it rises in two tiers of tall, slender arches to a height of around thirty metres, and that stretch, the Pegões Altos, is the part that visitors come to see. The pointed arches, built of local limestone and set on tall piers, give the structure a clean, rhythmic form, and viewed from below, with sky between the arches and green fields around, it is an impressive sight. The design is attributed to the Italian-born architect Filippo Terzi, who worked on many royal projects in Portugal, working with local masters.

The aqueduct served its purpose for centuries, supplying water to the convent and the area around until the 20th century, and today it is protected as a national monument. It is a quiet and free place to visit, set in the countryside a few kilometres from Tomar, and it is easy to combine with a visit to the convent itself. A footpath leads along parts of the route, and walkers can follow the line of the arches across fields and olive groves. The best view of the high section is from the valley floor, where the full height is visible.

Getting there requires a car or a bicycle, since it lies outside the town, and a short walk from the roadside is needed. Wear sturdy shoes, since paths can be uneven and overgrown in places, and take care near the arches. In spring, wild flowers add colour to the fields.

The aqueduct suits history readers, photographers, and engineers, and takes about an hour.