Art and culture
Rabo de Buey Aqueduct
Mérida was supplied with water by three main aqueducts in Roman times. One of them was the one called Rabo de Buey, or also San Lázaro.
- Explore
- Rabo de Buey Aqueduct
Bringing water to Roman Mérida
Location and Contact:
- Contact person: Oficina de Turismo de Mérida
- Tel.:+34 924 38 01 00
- Email: promocion@turismomerida.org
- Website address: www.turismomerida.org/
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Mérida was supplied with water by three main aqueducts in Roman times. One of them was the one called Rabo de Buey, or also San Lázaro.
One of the most important aqueducts in the city of Mérida is that of Rabo de Buey, of which only three columns remain today of the many that made up this construction that was over a kilometre long.
Its subsequent name was on account of the hermitage dedicated to San Lázaro, which was pulled down mid-20th century. Historians and intellectuals do not agree on the date this monument was built. It is only known that it was of vital importance during Roman times.
The visitor can see that the three columns that remain are of different proportions and have a buttress on the front, and are joined together by semi-circular arches. The aqueduct continued to the city of Mérida, where some remains of the channel have been found, from where it is believed that it took two different directions: one towards the area of the theatre and amphitheatres and the other towards the centre of the town.
During the 16th century, a new aqueduct was built over the ruins of the old one, which has been preserved entirely and reformed for recreational use, walks or bicycle rides. Near the San Lázaro aqueduct, we find the ruins of some Roman thermal baths. -
- Construction:
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- Aqueduct
- Art period:
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- Romanisation
Gallery:
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