Page 143 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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Águas Livres Acueducto de Aqueduc
Aqueduct, los Milagros, St-Clément,

portugal Spain France

NEED TO KNOW NEED TO KNOW NEED TO KNOW ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS
LOCATION The “Aqueduct of the Free LOCATION The remains of "UMBOUJD 0 DFBO LOCATION This aqueduct is 6/*5&%
,*/(%0. -JMMF
Waters” lies in Lisbon’s suburbs, close the aqueduct lie outside Mérida, on the western side of the city of
1PSUP #JMCBP
to Parque Florestal de Monsanto "UMBOUJD which is southwest of Madrid Montpellier in the south of France
0DFBO 1BSJT 4USBTCPVSH
DIMENSIONS Length: 3,083 ft $PJNCSB DIMENSIONS #BSDFMPOB DIMENSIONS Length: 2,624 ft
(940 m); height 226 ft (69 m) Length: 2,706 ft (825 m); 41"*/ (800 m); height: 82 ft (25 m)
41"*/ '3"/$& 48*5;&3-"/%
CONSTRUCTED 10356("- height: 82 ft (25 m) 10356("- .BESJE CONSTRUCTED
1731–48 CONSTRUCTED "$6&%6$50 %& 1754–76 #BZ PG -ZPO *5"-:
#JTDBZ
«(6"4 -*73&4 1st century AD -04 .*-"(304 #PSEFBVY
DAYTIME DAYTIME
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TEMPERATURES DAYTIME TEMPERATURES 4FWJMMF .FEJUFSSBOFBO TEMPERATURES 45 $-².&/5 .BSTFJMMF
Jan: 52°F (11°C); Apr: 61°F (16°C); Jan: 48°F (9°C); Apr: 57°F (14°C); 4FB Jan: 48°F (9°C); Apr: 59°F (15°C);
Jul: 72°F (22°C); Oct: 64°F (18°C) 'BSP Jul: 81°F (27°C); Oct: 64°F (18°C) Jul: 77°F (25°C); Oct: 63°F (17°C) 41"*/ .FEJUFSSBOFBO
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With the highest pointed arch in the world, As you descend into the bowl of the city of The view of the St-Clément Aqueduct from the
the 226-ft (69-m) Águas Livres Aqueduct is an Mérida, you’ll pass through a particularly Château d’Eau is one of the most spectacular in
18th-century engineering marvel. It survived the featureless set of suburbs. Then, suddenly, France. Stretching far into the distance against
1755 earthquake that destroyed most of Lisbon, you come upon the towering remains of the the dramatic backdrop of the mountains of the
and was still bringing water to the city in the Acueducto de los Milagros (Aqueduct of the Massif Central, this aqueduct was modeled on
1960s. After walking the length of the aqueduct Miracles), stranded heroically amid the tangle Pont du Gard by engineer Henri Pitot de Launay.
over the Alcântara Valley with the Sintra Express of peripheral roads. The effect of its alternating It no longer brings water to the city, but the
hurtling beneath, visit the nearby Water Museum. granite and brick structure is striking, especially aqueduct is still in use, with a chic neighborhood,
It encompasses an 18th-century cistern – the in spring when the storks nest where the water Les Arceaux, beneath its arches. As well as a food
Mãe D’Água Amoreiras – and the newer Boiler once flowed. The aqueduct stands proudly market, several boutiques have sprung up
Room, housing exhibits of Lisbon’s water system. aloof in its own parkland, acting as a superb alongside, and table-tennis tables and pétanque
appetizer for the rest of Roman Mérida. No courts now take advantage of the shade.
other place in Spain boasts such a wealth of
Practical Information
classical remains.
Getting There and Around Lisbon’s airport is very close to the city center. Practical Information
There are also buses and overnight trains from Madrid, Spain. To see the Getting There and Around Montpellier has an international airport and is
aqueduct’s finest section, take a bus (2) or a taxi from the city center. easily reached by TGV. To get to the aqueduct, head west to the flower-
Practical Information
When to Go The best months to walk the aqueduct are Mar–Jul and Sep. Getting There and Around The aqueduct is a short walk from Mérida’s old lined Promenade de Peyrou, which ends abruptly at the Château d’Eau.
There are tours on Wed and Fri. center. There is an airport at nearby Badajoz, but your best bet is Seville or When to Go Early spring is a great time to visit, as is October, when most of
Website www.atl-turismolisboa.pt Madrid. There are five trains a day from Madrid and one from Seville. the tourists have left.
When to Go Mérida is at its best mid-Mar–mid-Jun (though avoid Website www.ot-montpellier.fr
The elegant arch of the Águas Livres Aqueduct looming traveling in Spain at Easter) and mid-Sep–early Nov.
over Lisbon’s traffic
Website www.spain.info/TourSpain A length of the Aqueduc St-Clément with the 11th-century Château
d’Eau at one end
The remains of the towering Acueducto de Los Milagros, illuminated
at night

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