Reservatório da Mãe d'Água das Amoreiras

Reservatório da Mãe d'Água das Amoreiras is a historic reservoir in Lisbon where the famous Águas Livres Aqueduct comes to an end. Today it is one of the sites of the Water Museum run by the city's water utility, EPAL, and it holds the status of a Portuguese National Monument.

What is the Mãe d'Água and why was it built?

The name literally means "mother of water". The building served as the terminal reservoir of the aqueduct: water arriving from outside the city was collected here and then sent on to a network of fountains and public supply points. It completes the whole supply system, which reshaped both the rural and urban landscape of the capital.

Who designed it and when was it finished?

The design dates from 1745 and is the work of Carlos Mardel (1696–1763), a Hungarian-born architect and one of the key figures behind the Águas Livres system. The commission is linked to King John V. Progress was slow: the 1755 earthquake caused delays, work resumed in 1771, and the reservoir was only completed in 1834. Its inauguration is attributed to Queen Maria II.

What does the building look like?

The complex consists of two parts: the Casa das Águas Livres and the Casa do Registo. Together they form an imposing, solid structure. Inside is a tank 7.5 m deep with a capacity of about 5,500 m³. A cascading inlet feeds the central cistern, which makes the interior one of the most distinctive pieces of hydraulic architecture in Lisbon.

What can you see today?

The reservoir is one of the four sites of the Water Museum. Visitors can climb to the roof for a panoramic view over the city. The interior is sometimes used as an exhibition space too, so check the current programme before you go.

Practical information

• Location: the Amoreiras area of Lisbon, coordinates 38.72127, -9.155754.
• Opening hours (per OSM data): 10:00–12:30 and 13:30–17:30.
• Phone: +351 218 100 215.

Hours can change, so confirm them with the EPAL Water Museum before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mãe d'Água a spring? No. It is the terminal reservoir of the aqueduct, receiving water that arrived from outside the city before it was distributed.

How long did construction take? From the 1745 design to completion in 1834, almost 90 years passed, partly because of the aftermath of the 1755 earthquake.

Can you go up to the roof? Yes, visitors can climb to the roof for a view of Lisbon.

Is it part of a museum? Yes, it is one of the four sites of the EPAL Water Museum.

How much water does the tank hold? About 5,500 m³, with a depth of 7.5 m.

Is the building protected? Yes, it has National Monument status in Portugal.