human scale
Elvas, a constantly evolving city, has made
great progress in securing its water su-
pply. In its early days, when the city was
still occupied by the Moors, the source of
the city’s water supply was the Alcalá Well.
Centuries later, its growing population
made it necessary to create a new system
for bringing water to the city to meet de-
mand. It was at this time, during the reign
of Manuel I of Portugal, that it was decided
to build the Amoreira Aqueduct, designed
by Francisco de Arruda and built between
1498 and 1622, and one of the greatest en-
gineering feats in history.
The best way to continue describing Elvas
is to talk to Nuno Miguel Fernandes Mocin-
ha, the city’s frst deputy-mayor.
Do you believe, Mr. Fernandes Mocinha,
that it would be possible to surpass this
great work of engineering?
“Human beings can always surpass them-
selves. Nevertheless, we are seeing one
Center, from left to right: Artur Vidal, Manager of Aqualia in Portugal; Nuno Mocinha Deputy Mayor of Elvas; Jesús Rodríguez, Manager of the Extrema-
dura-Portugal division, and Ruy Nabeiro, head of Aqualia Services in Elvas, together with Aqualia workers in Elvas.