The first time I became aware of an “aqueduct” was in my early teens when Asterix comics were the rage.
In Asterix and the Big Fight, Cassius Ceramix who has ambitions of greatness & wants to be the Emperor of Gaul, describes his grand plan to “modernize” their humble hamlet.
He wants to bring progress, paved roads & and a magnificent aqueduct to rival Rome itself!”l
I still remember the reply that by a bystander, “Why do we need an aqueduct? We’ve got a river!”
The haughty Ceramix replies, “Ceramix: “A river? Pfft! Only barbarians rely on rivers! An aqueduct is the mark of true civilization!”
note: I googled these two dialogues as had forgotten the exact words.
So when i heard that Segovia near Madrid has a Roman aqueduct, we went there. Ours was a road trip so we could change plans & spent the night there . @bookingcom zindabad for hotels.
The Segovia aqueduct was built by the Romans around the 1st century CE and is one of the most jaw-dropping feats of Roman engineering still standing.
It’s mind boggling and as I walked along its length and to the top I could only be glad that we had come.
Also chasing arches is my favourite pastime & i chased arches all over Andalusia!
The aqueduct double arches may have provided inspiration for the double arches of the Cordoba mezquita/ mosque too.
#SegoviaAqueduct #RomanEngineering #AncientArchitecture #HistoricLandmarks #UNESCOWorldHeritage #VisitSpain #SpainTravel #SegoviaSpain #TravelEurope #HistoricSpain #RomanRuins #arches #cordobamezquita