Fuente del Rey y conducción de aguas

Fuente del Rey y conducción de aguas is an 18th-century aqueduct and water-supply system on the outskirts of Málaga, linking the city with the districts of Churriana and the municipality of Alhaurín de la Torre. It stands as one of the region's best-preserved pieces of historic hydraulic engineering, drawing visitors interested in industrial heritage and the history of water management on the Costa del Sol.

What exactly is this site?

The name covers both the spring at Churriana that fed the system and the network of channels, arches and bridges that carried its water toward Málaga. Locally the structure is also known as the Acueducto de los Arcos de Zapata, after its distinctive arched sections. It was built to supply drinking water to the growing city, while also irrigating farmland and powering mills along its route.

How was it built?

King Felipe V approved the project in 1726, and the year 1728 is still carved above the entrance gate of the water tower, one of the most recognizable parts of the whole complex. The water came from the Fuente del Rey spring in Churriana, linked to the older Almendral del Rey source that Málaga's town council, the Cabildo, had already tried to tap in the 16th century by channeling the Arroyo de la Culebra stream. That earlier, much smaller scheme was a separate and far more modest effort, unrelated in scale to the 18th-century project. Around the same time, the city also pursued the San Telmo Aqueduct, promoted by Bishop Molina Lario, as both projects attempted to solve Málaga's chronic water shortage.

What can you see today?

The original route ran for about 5.5 kilometers, of which roughly 3 to 3.5 kilometers of masonry channels, arches and bridges survive. The most striking feature is the multi-arched Zapata section, which carried water across uneven terrain using gravity alone, together with the water tower and its dated gate. Walking along the surviving stretches gives a clear sense of how 18th-century engineers solved elevation problems without any mechanical pumping.

How do you get there?

The aqueduct runs through the area between Málaga and Alhaurín de la Torre, close to Churriana and the Málaga-Costa del Sol airport. The easiest way to reach it is by car, following the local roads that connect the two municipalities; different sections of the aqueduct are visible from the access roads into Churriana and Alhaurín de la Torre.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the site is entirely outdoors, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, offering milder temperatures than the height of summer and the greenest surroundings along the water channels.

Frequently asked questions

What is Fuente del Rey y conducción de aguas? It is an 18th-century aqueduct and channel system that carried water from a spring in Churriana to Málaga, also used for irrigation and to power mills.

When was the aqueduct built? King Felipe V approved the project in 1726, and the date 1728 is inscribed on the gate of the water tower, one of the structure's key elements.

How much of the original aqueduct survives? About 3 to 3.5 kilometers remain out of the original 5.5-kilometer route, mainly as masonry arches, channels and bridges.

Is the site legally protected? Yes, it was added to the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage in 2018 as a Bien de Interés Cultural with Historic Site status.