Les Ferreres Aqueduct (Pont del Diable)

Tickets and tours: which to book

Nothing is sold online for the aqueduct on its own, and there is no ticket: the bridge stands in a small public park that is open to anyone at any time. You walk in from the car park, follow the paths to the foot of the arches and climb the bank at one end to reach the top.

Most people visit independently, either as a short stop by car on the way into or out of Tarragona, or as a separate trip from the city centre by bus or taxi. Some guided city tours and day trips to Tarragona from Barcelona or the Costa Daurada resorts include the aqueduct as a quick photo stop on the way to the amphitheatre and the old town; on those, transport and a guide are included, while lunch and entry to the paid sites usually are not.

The city's paid monuments, such as the amphitheatre, the circus and the walls, are sold on a combined ticket at their own entrances, but that pass does not cover the aqueduct, as it does not need one. The sensible plan is to come by car or taxi early in the day, spend an hour walking around and across the bridge, and then head into town for the rest of Roman Tarraco.

A short history

Roman Tarraco, capital of the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, needed fresh water as it grew, and one of its aqueducts drew from the Francoli river about 15 km to the north. The bridge at Les Ferreres probably dates from the reign of Augustus, at the turn of the eras, and carried the channel across a small valley. It has two levels of arches built to a regular plan, with spans of 20 Roman feet and piers 26 Roman feet apart. It was used, repaired and patched at later dates, and its local name, the Devil's Bridge, comes from a legend about its building. It became part of the UNESCO Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco in 2000.

Getting there

The aqueduct stands beside the N-240 road to Valls and Lleida, about 4 km north of central Tarragona and close to the junction with the AP-7 motorway. Tarragona has fast trains from Barcelona in about an hour, and high-speed trains stop at Camp de Tarragona station outside the city; Reus airport is about 20 minutes away and Barcelona airport about an hour. From the city centre, municipal buses towards the northern districts run along the N-240 and stop near the car park; check the current line before you set out. A taxi takes about 10 minutes. Drivers will find a free car park and picnic area next to the road, a few minutes on foot from the bridge.

Rules and what to bring

The site is open and unguarded, so look after it: do not climb the piers, prise out stones or write on the walls. Keep children close on the top channel, which has a drop on both sides and no barrier. Drones are restricted near monuments in Spain and need permission. Wear trainers or walking shoes for the slopes, bring water and sunscreen in summer, and take your rubbish away; there are no shops, cafes or toilets on site.

When to go

There are no opening hours, so the only limits are daylight and weather. Morning light falls well on the eastern face, and the warm light of late afternoon is the favourite time for photographs. The woods give some shade on the approach, but the valley floor and the top of the bridge are exposed, so in July and August come before 11 am or after 6 pm.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild temperatures and green woods; winter is also fine on a dry day, though the channel can be slippery after rain. The site is busiest at weekends, when local families picnic in the park, and when coach tours stop briefly in the middle of the day, but it never feels crowded for long. Allow about an hour to walk around, under and across the bridge, or a little more with a picnic.