Pena Cortada Roman Aqueduct

Tickets and tours: which to book

No ticket or tour for the aqueduct is sold online, and none is needed. The monument stands in open countryside and is free to visit at any time. It is protected in Spain as a property of cultural interest, the highest national heritage category, but there is no gate, ticket office or visitor centre on the route itself.

Visiting means walking. Marked footpaths lead to the main sections from Calles and from Chelva, and local councils have put up signs and information panels at the start points. Most people walk a circular route that takes in the bridge, the tunnels and the great rock cut, returning along the river valley. The tourist information office in Chelva can supply maps and advice on the current state of the paths, which can be closed after storms or in very high fire risk.

Some local active-tourism companies and walking guides in the area lead groups along the aqueduct by arrangement, and walking clubs from Valencia come at weekends, but these are not fixed products bought online. Without a car the trip is harder, since buses from Valencia to Chelva are infrequent. For most visitors the sensible plan is to drive from Valencia early, walk the route on their own with a good map, and have lunch in Chelva or Calles afterwards.

A short history

The aqueduct was built in the Roman period, generally dated to the 1st century AD, to carry water from the river valleys of the upper Turia basin towards the lowlands. Its full course, much of it now lost or buried, ran for many kilometres through the hills of Los Serranos, crossing the land of the present-day villages of Tuejar, Chelva, Calles and Domeno. Scholars still debate which town it served. Engineers chose tunnels, rock cuts and bridges rather than long detours, which is why its surviving stretch is so dramatic. The aqueduct fell out of use after the Roman period, and today it is protected as a property of cultural interest.

Getting there

Valencia airport and city are the gateway. By car, take the CV-35 motorway northwest towards Lliria and on past Casinos to Calles, about 75 km and an hour from Valencia; Chelva is a few minutes further. Both villages have parking near the start of the marked paths, and the walk to the first sections of the aqueduct is signposted from there. Buses run from Valencia to Chelva and Calles a few times a day, taking around two hours, which makes a day trip possible but tight; check the return times before setting out. There is no road access to the aqueduct itself, so the last part is always on foot.

Rules and what to bring

This is a walk in rough country, so prepare as for a mountain hike. Wear boots or sturdy trail shoes, carry at least a litre and a half of water per person, a hat, sunscreen and a torch for the tunnels. Keep children close on the ledges, where drops are unfenced. Do not climb on the bridge masonry or damage the channel. Fires are banned, and there are no toilets, cafes or water points on the route, so use those in Calles or Chelva.

When to go

Start in the morning. The route is exposed for much of its length, and the limestone gorge holds the heat, so in summer the middle of the day is uncomfortable and even risky without plenty of water. On a cool morning the walk is pleasant and the low light shows the texture of the stone in the rock cut and on the bridge.

March to June and October to November are the best months, with mild temperatures and green valleys in spring. July and August are hot, often above 35 degrees inland, and paths can be closed on days of extreme fire risk. After heavy autumn storms the river crossings and tunnels may be muddy or flooded, so check locally. Weekends and Spanish public holidays bring walkers from Valencia, while weekdays are almost empty. Allow half a day for the walk and a few hours more if you add lunch and a stroll in Chelva.