Ferreres Aqueduct: A Roman Water Supply Structure near Tarragona, Spain

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.tarragona.cat

Country: Spain

Civilization: Roman

Remains: Infrastructure

History

The Ferreres Aqueduct is located near Tarragona, in the province of Tarragona, Spain. It was constructed by the Romans, likely during the 1st century AD under Emperor Augustus. This period coincided with the growth of Tarraco, the Roman city that served as the administrative center of the province Hispania Citerior.

The aqueduct supplied fresh water from the Francolí River to Tarraco and remained in use throughout the Roman era and into the Middle Ages. In the 10th century, it underwent restoration under Caliph Abd al-Rahman III of Córdoba, reflecting continued importance during Islamic rule in the region. Later, in the 18th century, further repairs were made to maintain its function.

In 1857, the aqueduct was the focus of a major restoration led by archaeologist Bonaventura Hernández Sanahuja. Additional conservation efforts took place during the 20th century to prevent further decay. The structure was officially recognized as a Cultural Asset of National Interest in 1905. In 2000, it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco.

More recent archaeological work, especially between 2009 and 2011, restored water flow through the aqueduct’s upper channel, revealing details about its construction and workforce. Investigations in 2021 identified over fifty sections of the aqueduct’s route, confirming the water source at Font de la Munda near Vallmoll and mapping its course and hydraulic features.

Remains

The Ferreres Aqueduct stretches 217 meters and reaches a height of 27 meters, not including the water channel on top. It consists of two levels of arches: eleven on the lower tier and twenty-five above. Each arch spans about 6.3 meters and stands roughly 5.7 meters tall where the ground is level. The arches are spaced approximately eight meters apart.

Constructed entirely using opus quadratum, the aqueduct is made of large, rectangular stone blocks with slightly raised faces. These stones were carefully cut and fitted together without mortar. The water channel, or specus, on the upper level was built with opus signinum, a waterproof mortar made from lime and sand, which later became covered by natural calcite deposits.

The stone used for the aqueduct was quarried locally from nearby caves known as Coves de la Pedrera. Inside the supporting piers, a concrete-like mixture called opus caementicium, made of small stones and mortar, was used to strengthen the structure.

The aqueduct crosses the Barranc dels Arcs valley near the Sant Salvador district, about four kilometers north of Tarragona’s center. Water was collected at Torre del Comte, fifteen kilometers to the north, and transported via a covered channel following the natural terrain. Upon reaching Tarraco, the water entered through what is now Avinguda Catalunya, where it was stored and filtered in a castellum aquae, a water distribution basin, before being delivered through lead pipes.

The monument is well preserved and has undergone several restorations to maintain its condition. It remains in situ, with much of its original structure intact.