The Roman Aqueduct of Lisbon: A Utopia or a Viable Enterprise?

Abstract

The first references to the Olisipo aqueduct date from the 16th century and regard the Águas Livres springs and the Belas roman dam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, architects and engineers reported the existence of remains of an old conduit. However, the lack of archaeological proofs in Lisbon area led some researchers to consider the Olisipo aqueduct an utopia. Supported by documentation and functional interpretation of roman hydraulic structures, tests to find out the aqueduct route were developed through an innovative geographic modelling. Different surfaces of topographic conditioning were generated to create a viable route for the water to be conveyed to both termini of Olisipo referred to by the royal architect Leonardo Turriano.