Roman Aqueduct

The Aqueduct is the first thing you see when you arrive in Segovia and stuns anyone who visits it because of its impressive size and age. It was built by the Romans sometime during the 1st century AD, has survived attempted destruction, and weathered the elements to remain one of Spain’s greatest Roman treasures. It is also called the “Devil’s Bridge” for the legend that surrounds its construction. According to the legend, there once was a young water-seller named Juanilla who fetched water every day from a spring. As the work became harder and harder she became desperate and struck a deal with the Devil, who said he would build the Aqueduct before the next daybreak in exchange for her soul.

She realized what a mistake she had made, but luckily the Virgin saved her and brought daybreak earlier than normal, so the Devil could not take her soul. The people laid the last stone of the Aqueduct and the girl never had to fetch water again. Supposedly, the tiny holes left in the stones represent the dents made by the Devil’s fingers as he picked them up, but they are actually slots for the hooks that hoisted the stones up. This Aqueduct ran water to the city all the way from a river about 10 miles away until 1884. And guess what’s on Segovia’s coat-of arms? The Aqueduct!