Roman Aqueduct, Segovia, Spain

The Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain, has to be one of the most famous ones in the world. Every time I’ve seen it, I’ve been impressed. These photos aren’t the best, but they give a good impression of  the how the structure spans the little valley there leading to the old part of town.

DSC_2868Moving closer, with some people in the photo, you get a better sense of the scale of it:

DSC_2901For more than a thousand years, this aqueduct brought water into town. That’s impressive for any piece of infrastructure. The Romans knew what they were doing, and weren’t afraid to do it well.

Published in: on December 4, 2017 at 3:39 pm  Comments (1)  
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Romans in Sasamón

The Romans ranged far and wide across what is no Spain. Augusts camped out in what was the Celtiberian town of Segisamo (hence Sasamón) on his way to make war with the Cantabrians. The Romans were conquest crazy and didn’t let up until someone put a beating on them. As they did throughout the known world of their time, the Romans left all manner of artifacts behind, from aqueducts, to coins, to theatres, to mosaic floors. In the town of Sasamón, you’ll find some interpretations of their civilization such as the scene below.

There are authentic pieces mixed with newer versions. And here are the real coins of realm.

And a few more just for contrast.

That was real money, plunked down for goods and services when the Western Hemisphere was not yet known by Europeans. Roman ruins, gothic cathedrals, modern art, great food, just a few of the many reasons I enjoy visiting Spain.

Published in: on July 13, 2010 at 12:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Roman Ruins, Mérida

One of the main goals of my recent visit to Spain was to see the Roman ruins at Mérida. The Romans had a substantial settlement here, large enough to support an amphitheater and a theater side by side. There was also a handsome temple for the goddess Diana, among others. Naturally they needed a bridge to cross the river and sundry other structures such as an acqueduct to support their living requirements and commerce. The following video shows some of the things I saw.

Impressive, aren’t they? I was very impressed to say the least. Plus, there is a museum with hundreds of artifacts on display to give you a thorough understanding of the context in which these structures existed.
The town itself offers a menagerie of restaurants and shops, everything from trinkets to quality gifts. I would recommend a full day here, morning to late afternoon.

Published in: on June 13, 2010 at 10:10 am  Leave a Comment  
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Segovia’s Roman Aqueduct

By most accounts, Segovia’s Roman aqueduct was built sometime around the 1st or 2nd Century AD. It stands more than 93 feet tall including the foundation, which reaches down about 16 feet. Building this device was no small task, but the Romans were no amateurs. I had the pleasure of visiting Segovia again this May, and made a short video showing the structure as it stretches above the plaza below. Take a look:

The structure has been in use since it was built with a few interruptions and repairs. The Moors destroyed a piece of it, but it was subsequently rebuilt under the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. There are also accessory structures such as the “water house” that are part of the water system. These are less popular destinations but important to understand the thoroughness with which the Romans created their civilization.

I’ll have more photos and video about Segovia soon. It is an interesting city to visit and I hope to get there again.

Published in: on May 4, 2010 at 6:56 pm  Comments (1)  
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