Mãe D’Àgua, An 19th-century Public Water Reservoir In Lisbon, Portugal, Nowadays Converted In The Water Museum Editorial Photo

The Mãe d`Água das Amoreiras Reservoir is located in central Lisbon. It was designed in 1745 but was not finalized until 1834. It collected the water brought to the city by the Águas Livres aqueduct, which in turn is also an excellent example of 18th-century hydraulic engineering in Portugal. The water was sourced from the Odivelas parish, although the collection and adduction network extended over a total of 47 kilometers. It collected water from 58 springs, most of which were located in the Serra da Carregueira and within the Serra de Sintra hydrographic basin. The Mãe d`Água das Amoreiras Reservoir is a remarkable structure: its central water tank is approximately 7.5 metres deep, with a capacity of 5,500 cubic meters. The space resembles a church, complete with an “altar” which in reality is an ornamented artificial cascade. The reservoir no longer supplies Lisbon with water but has become part of its historical and architectural legacy.