the aqueduct that connects the old upper town to the botanical garden
It stands between the Alta de Coimbra and the Jardim Botânico, crossed by Avenida Sá da Bandeira. The arches advance in a line across the drop between the two sides, in a route you see from below on the avenue and can walk on top from the garden. It dates from the second half of the 16th century, built in the reign of D. Sebastião (hence the name), to reinforce the water supply to the upper part of the city, making use of a Roman aqueduct that already existed on the same alignment.
What you see today is the result of several interventions over the centuries, but the general form remains: round-arch stonework in series, with the water channel running above. It's not a monumental piece in the manner of the Águas Livres aqueduct in Lisboa: it's more understated, embedded in the urban fabric, and works almost as a natural passage between two levels of the city. For anyone who doesn't know Coimbra, it's one of those pieces that confirms the city has historical layers whichever direction you look.
Go early in the morning or late afternoon, when the sun cuts through between the arches and marks the pavement. It pairs well with a visit to the Jardim Botânico (right next door) and to the upper university (just above).
what you'll find
- arches in series bridging the Alta and the Jardim Botânico
- built in the 16th century on a pre-existing Roman alignment
- walkable on top, from the botanical garden side
- a passage between two levels of the city, more than a standalone destination
