Miracles Aqueduct

You’re now standing in the wide-open Acueducto de los Milagros, or the Park of the Aqueduct of Miracles, right in front of the stunning ruins that give it its name. This is one of Merida’s most iconic archaeological sites. Its main purpose was to carry water from the Proserpina reservoir, about five kilometres away, to supply the western part of the Roman city of Augusta Emerita. It’s called the Aqueduct of Miracles because of the awe it's inspired over the centuries, considering how incredibly well it’s been preserved. Nearly 800 metres of this 2000-year old structure are still standing. Some of the tallest arches reach up to 25 metres high. In the northern section, there was even a water purification basin that acted as a fountain for passers-by. As the land rises towards the city, the columns and arches get taller and more numerous to keep the channel at the right height for the water to flow smoothly downhill. Roman engineers were masters of water, just think of their sewers, bathhouses, aqueducts… the whole system is mind-blowing! When it comes to the aqueduct’s origins, things get a bit murky. It’s believed to have been built during the 1st century AD, under the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the first five emperors of Rome who were connected to Julius Caesar. These were Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. In fact, the city even had two older aqueducts before this one. But in 2019, researchers at the Autonomous University of Madrid stirred up some debate when they published a study claiming the aqueduct isn’t Roman at all, but Visigothic! Using thermoluminescence dating, they suggested it may have been built in the 4th or 5th century, making it a work of Late Antiquity or even the early Middle Ages. Their findings also line up with historical changes. Emperor Diocletian, who ruled into the early 4th century, launched major reforms that made Augusta Emerita the capital of the Diocesis Hispaniarum, which included the whole Iberian Peninsula and parts of North Africa. That said, not everyone agrees with this theory, it’s been firmly rejected by local leaders, including Merida’s mayor, Antonio Rodríguez Osuna. Still, whether it’s three centuries younger than we thought or not doesn’t change its miraculous status. It remains a stunning testament to ancient engineering and it's a part of Merida’s UNESCO-listed archaeological ensemble. Running parallel behind it is the Roman bridge, built under Augustus, which marked the northern entrance to the ancient city.