Aqueduct and Muro das Nove Janelas
The Aqueduct and the Muro das Nove Janelas are one of those stops you don't see coming and that end up leaving you speechless. It's an old hydraulic structure considered historic heritage of the island of São Miguel, tucked away in the heart of the Serra Devassa, on the road between Ponta Delgada and Sete Cidades.
The Carvão Aqueduct, as it's known, is a 19th-century stone structure that once carried water from the lakes in the island's interior, such as the Canário Lagoon and the Empadadas Lakes, all the way to the city of Ponta Delgada. On an island with so much water but with a capital in need of supply, it was a key feat of engineering in its day.
Its most spectacular stretch, and the one everyone comes to see, is the so-called Muro das Nove Janelas ("wall of the nine windows"). The name comes from its distinctive arches, five up top and four below, that open in the wall like windows. And here's a detail we love: those arches aren't just decorative. Since the wall stands in a high, very wind-exposed area, the openings are designed to let the gusts pass through without damaging the structure. Pure logic from people who know the Azorean climate well.
Today the aqueduct is out of use, but it's very well preserved and nature has taken it upon itself to cover it in moss and vegetation, giving it that look of a ruin blended into the landscape that's so appealing.
To get there, we recommend leaving your car right at the Mata do Canário parking lot and walking a bit, since it's very close by and it's the most convenient way to reach it.
