Castellum of Alcabideque

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

District: Coimbra > Condeixa-a-Nova > Condeixa-a-Nova > Casal Novo

Location

The Castellum de Alcabideque is located in the village of Casal Novo, belonging to the municipality of Condeixa-a-Nova. Situated in a predominantly rural environment, the site where this Roman monument is located was once an area of great agricultural activity. The area surrounding its reservoir is characterized by a paved square and pedestrian paths, inviting a tranquil observation of the space.

A Legacy of Roman Engineering

This structure is a central piece of a complex hydraulic system designed by the Romans in the 1st century AD. The Castellum functioned as a water intake tower, essential for supplying an important city of the time. It was the starting point of an aqueduct with a total length of 3550 meters, a remarkable feat of engineering that demonstrates the construction capabilities of Roman civilization.

Layout and Structure

The Castellum de Alcabideque has a rectangular plan and contains a lower chamber covered by a robust barrel vault, with the extrados in a flattened arch, techniques typical of Roman architecture. From here, the aqueduct followed a winding path, being mostly underground. In some sections, the water channel ran over arches, of which only one remains today, a testament to the original grandeur of the construction, or rested on walls and foundations close to the ground.

An Enduring Testimony

Throughout its long history, the main function of the Castellum complex remained the same: the transport and management of drinking water. Although the system underwent adaptations and improvements, such as the use of lead pipes for water distribution, its essence as a source of life for the city it served remained unchanged. Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, two cisterns were added in the vicinity, structures thought to have been integrated into a system that complemented the site's needs, perhaps for defensive purposes or additional storage. Recognized as a National Monument, the Castellum de Alcabideque remains a valuable historical-cultural landmark, inviting reflection on the life and innovation of a millenary civilization.