Albarracín-Cella Roman Aqueduct

Useful Information

Location:	Pza Perseidas, s/n, 44110 Gea de Albarracín, Teruel. Gea de Albarracín. (40.4115, -1.3395)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Water Supply
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=25 km.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Centro Visitas Acueducto Romano GEA, Pza Perseidas, s/n, 44110 Gea de Albarracín, Teruel, Tel: +34-978-07-10-22.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2015	Visitor Center opened.

Description

The Acueducto Romano Albarracín–Cella (Albarracín-Cella Roman Aqueduct) is of some length, after all it is a drinking water canal which brings water from the source to a city. The coordinates we have given are the visitor center at Gea de Albarracín, east of the village. The visit to the aqueduct is a walk called the Sendero Aqueducto Romano, the canal itself is the trail, and it is partly above ground and partly underground. There are educational boards along the trail, but only in Spanish.

The Roman aqueduct is almost 25 km long. It starts at the Guadalaviar River, from which it takes its waters. It goes underground near Gea de Albarracín and emerges again on the surface as it approaches Cella. In this area, it sometimes runs 60 meters deep. The aqueduct has a total of 9 km of underground galleries with almost a hundred ventilation shafts. Approximately 50,000 m³ of rock were excavated for its construction.

The purpose was to supply water to the Roman city where today Cella is located. With a flow of 300 liters per second, they either planned a massive growth of the city or the water was intended for fulling mills, forges or mills. If and how long it was actually in use is unknown. The only thing which is clear, is that it was not working any more at the time reconquista.