| Rio de Janeiro - Others - Lapa Arcs |
The 42 arcs of this XVIII century aqueduct are considered to be the symbol of the
old gathering place of the bohemians of Rio. Inspired on the Aqueduct of the Free Waters of Lisbon, the Lapa Arcs were built between 1719 and
1725 by slaves and Indians.
The material used in the construction that is 64 meters high and 270 meters long,
was Brazilian granite, lime ciment, sand and fish oil. The project was designed to help to transport the water of the Carioca river, to the Santo
Antônio Hill, to a fountain in the present Largo da Carioca, in Santa Tereza District. However, in 1896 the arcs started to be used also as a
bridge between the two districts by a line of cable cars.
In 1995, the Lapa Arcs were restored and the tracks were substituted. The cable
line still runs and is the main form of public transportation of Santa Terexs District. |
Presentation
