ALEJANDRO DUQUE, stonecutting workshop

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Educational stonecutting: “The construction of the Aqueduct of Segovia”.

LOCATION

Alameda del Parral, 1

40003 Segovia

Situated in Segovia’s old Wadding Factory, in a small square at the start of the Alameda del Parral and near the Monastery of San Vicente el Real.

DESCRIPTION

Perhaps you are one of those who think that Segovia has no secrets for you. In this comprehensive educational workshop, the Segovian stonemason Alejandro Duque will show you that even the aqueduct itself holds many mysteries and curiosities. Alejandro is a professional stonemason with over 25 years’ experience and has been carrying out educational workshops for groups since 2012.

Alejandro will welcome your group to his quarry workshop, where you can get to know about this craft, one of the oldest in Humanity, which is currently in danger of extinction.

After a live demonstration of sculpting techniques, it will be your turn to try your hand at stone carving with chisels, wearing safety glasses.

Then, in another room, Alejandro will explain how the Segovia Aqueduct was built, using three scale models which he created himself. With these, you will be able clearly to appreciate all the different trades that worked together on the project: cranes, slaves, centurions, carpenters and blacksmiths are all included in this reproduction. Discover also the way that the granite was extracted from the quarry, and the water source for the Aqueduct, a weir in the mountains.

Finally, it will be time to get down to work. You will be able to show what you have learnt by building several arches, identical to those in the aqueduct, using props but with the same techniques used by the Romans stonemasons.

DURATION

1 hour 30 minutes.

PRICE PER PERSON

€ 6.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Aqueduct of Segovia has 166 arches, 120 columns and 20,400 granite blocks. It measures nearly 15 kilometres long and has a maximum height of 28.10 metres.
• It is the heraldic symbol of the city and was built to bring water from the mountains. One legend attributes its construction to the devil.
• The placing in position of the stones was made possible by a wooden structure, called formwork, which allowed the arches to be shaped with perfectly fitting granite stones, after which these were lifted by cranes and scaffolding onto the pillars.
• On this spot – the Old Wadding Factory, on the banks of the river Eresma – there was a paper mill from the late sixteenth century. In 1910, the owners, the Riber family, converted the industry by setting up the Segovian Manufacturing Industry (making mattress stuffing), as well as an ice factory. In 1987 the City of Segovia bought the factory and its surrounding properties.