O cano real da Água da Prata (século XVI) - das nascentes à distribuição na cidade de Évora (Portugal)

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.4741225040610

• Palavras-chave: Aquedutos, Cano Real, Água, Abastecimentos, Património.

• Keywords: Aqueducts, Cano Real, Water, Supplies, Heritage.

• Abstract: The Água da Prata aqueduct, built between 1531 and 1537 to supply water to the city of Évora, is an important water infrastructure, both because of its antiquity and because of the size and mark it made on the rural and urban landscape. The adductor canal ran for 15.31 kilometers from the catchments located beyond the village of Graça do Divor to the city's Fernandine wall. Although it was mostly built underground, or adjoined to the ground level whenever this allowed, there are places where this solution was not possible, and the canal was supported by arches that, in some sections, reached high altimetry levels. At the end of this route there are water tanks for maintaining the canal, changing direction or intersecting with household supply branches or introducing water from springs. It was in the urban area of Évora that its layout was most striking, as it not only redefined or opened some streets, but also changed the urban image. The construction of arcade sections, water tanks and public water supply points was decisive.