Commonly known as “Acueducto de les Ferreres” or “Pont del Diable” (Devil’s Bridge), it was built to provide water to the city from the Francolí River, located 25 km away. The monumental part is not in Tarragona itself, but rather 4 km to the north, in the nearby town of Ferreres, from which it gets its name. This aqueduct is part of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco and is therefore a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This archway from the 1st century BC, which is part of the aqueduct, measures 217 meters in length and stands at a height of 27 meters, with two rows of arches, plus the upper channel (specus) through which the water flowed and which can still be traversed today. No mortar was used in its construction; instead, the stones or blocks were stacked dry, fitting one upon the other. The distance from the northern to the southern part is 40 meters. Thanks to this archway, they managed to cross the valley and provide the necessary gradient for the water to flow smoothly to its final destination: Tarraco, the capital of the Roman province of Hispania Citerior Tarraconensis.

The aqueduct was in use until the 18th century, and nowadays, it is used for activities related to Roman life and culture during the International Festival Tarraco Viva, which takes place in the month of May.

And why do they call it the Devil’s Bridge?

Apparently, it all stems from an old legend in which an elderly couple used to cross the river with their donkey every day on a bridge that was swept away by a flood. The devil appeared to them and offered to build a stone bridge overnight in exchange for taking the soul of the first living being that crossed it. The elderly couple agreed, and the next morning, they saw the imposing bridge built. They knew they had to pay their part of the deal, so they made the donkey walk ahead of them.

Crta. N240 a Lérida (a 4 km. de Tarragona)
43007 Tarragona
Phone: +34 977 24 22 20
Email: mht@tarragona.cat