Los Milagros Aqueduct and Albarregas park

The Los Milagros aqueduct is the image of Mérida that is not inside any enclosure: a row of tall piers and slender arches crossing the Albarregas river valley, north of the centre. It can be seen free, at any hour, and is lit up at night.

What it is

It is what remains of the Roman conduit that brought water to Augusta Emerita from the Proserpina reservoir. According to the Monumental City Consortium, the water travelled underground to the piscina limaria, a settling tank where impurities were separated. From there, a powerful arcade crossed the Albarregas valley, which is the stretch you see today. The arches combine granite ashlars and courses of brick, and that alternation of colours is what stands out most up close.

The water ended at the castellum aquae, a distribution tower on today's Calle Calvario, on the kardo maximus, one of the two main streets of the Roman city. In front of it was a great monumental fountain.

The Albarregas park

The river valley is now a park with paths that run beside the piers. It is a good place to stretch your legs, sit in the shade and see the aqueduct from below, at its full height. Beside it is the small Roman bridge over the Albarregas, another Consortium monument, and very close is the railway bridge.

When and how to go

It is on Avenida Vía de la Plata, outside the paid enclosures: the visit is free and has no hours. In the late afternoon the sun hits the stone from the side, and at dusk the lighting comes on. Allow about 45 minutes with the walk through the park.

From Plaza de España it is about 1.4 km, a quarter of an hour's walk towards the train station, which is very close: if you arrive or leave by train, it is easy to see on the way. With a dog, on a lead, the park is fine. With children, the park's open space is a rest between monuments.

What to combine

To follow the path of the water, go on to the Proserpina reservoir, where the conduit began, with its Roman dam still standing. Back in the centre, the church of Santa Eulalia, with the Hornito and the Humilladero, is close, and the Roman circus is in the same northern half of the city. If you prefer to have it explained, the guided visit "Mérida in Full" covers the main monuments.