Aqueduto dos Pegões

The Pegões Aqueduct, one of the largest and most impressive in Portugal, was built with the purpose of supplying water to the Convento de Cristo in Tomar , and is about 6 km long.

Its construction was initiated in 1593 , during the reign of Filipe I of Portugal , under the direction of Filipe Terzio , (chief architect of the kingdom) and was completed in 1614 by Pedro Fernando de Torres . It links the Convento with the village of Pegões on the outskirts of Tomar, where there were four natural springs.

The aqueduct has 58 full round arches, in its highest part, on 16 pointed arches supported on pillars. Its maximum height is 30 metres. At the ends, there are vaulted houses, with a large sink in the centre for decanting the water.