On the outskirts of the city of Tarragona, on a lush Mediterranean pine forest is located one of the greatest vestiges of Roman times in the Iberian Peninsula, the Aqueduct of Les Ferreres.
Surrounded by the peaceful natural surroundings of the Devil’s Bridge Historical Park is this amazing Roman arcade, built during the reign of Augustus, in the 1st century BC. and that it belonged to the ancient Roman aqueduct that was in charge of supplying water to the city of Tarraco, transporting it from the Francolí River.
The utility it represented for the inhabitants was such that it continued to be used until the 18th century and its almost perfect state of conservation has earned the Aqueduct of Les Ferreres being declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Bridge of Les Ferreres is the fragment of the Roman aqueduct that remains and that today can be visited; It was designed with two levels of large arches superimposed between them, with the aim of saving the Ferreres ravine, in addition the construction was crowned by a channel, called specus, through which the water originally circulated to the city.
With more than two thousand years old and far from the hectic city environment, the Aqueduct of Les Ferreres is the only aqueduct in Catalonia through which it is possible to take a walk with guided tours with the aim of transporting its visitors back to the years of splendor of the Roman Tarragona.
A few meters from the entrance to the park, there is a wooden walkway from which it is possible to obtain beautiful views of the aqueduct. After finishing it and entering the rocky paths of the quiet forest that crosses the ravine, you will reach the impressive monument of more than 200 meters in length and 26 meters in height.
If you choose the path on the left, you will approach the foot of the aqueduct and there you can walk under its huge arches and contemplate its grandeur and beauty. Taking the path to the right, you will cross the aqueduct on foot from one end to the other through the same place through which, originally the water passed and you will be surprised by an incredible view of the forest that surrounds it.
To close the tour with a flourish, the romantic gardens created by the Valls i Puig brothers at the beginning of the 20th century await you. In them you will discover a variety of plantations along with many other historical remains, without forgetting that it is essential to visit the Casa del Guarda, a modernist-style construction and the small restaurant where you can stop to recharge your batteries.
But not only because it is a marvel of Roman engineering, or the beautiful landscapes and gardens of the park around it, which makes this monument attractive, but the many stories and legends that surround it arouse the curiosity and interest of its visitors. In fact, it is popularly known as the Pont del Diable, precisely because of a legend with different versions, which tells that the bridge was built by the devil after a bet in which the soul of certain people was at stake although in the end he was scammed and calmed down his locals.
It is definitely the perfect place for lovers of history and the great outdoors. The Les Farreres aqueduct stands in the middle of an environment where culture and nature coexist; invites you to go back in time and live the experience of remembering Roman Tarragona with this marvelous work of civil engineering while enjoying quiet walks, bike rides and even picnics.
If you visit Tarragona, you can’t miss it!
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