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Some aqueducts still carry water; others now carry wheels.
Below are three routes—one in Italy, one in Spain, one in Turkey—where you can pedal under soaring arches and
trace the literal lifelines of ancient cities.
1. Parco degli Acquedotti – Rome, Italy
Distance: 15 km out-and-back (Colosseum to Frascati)
Surface: Packed dirt and short cobbled stretches
Rental: City bikes from Termini station start at €15 per day.
The route leaves the Appian Way, enters Parco degli Acquedotti, and threads beneath the six-storey Aqua Claudia.
Stop at rustic kiosks selling panini and chilled wine—both cheaper than in Centro Storico.
Return via Metro A (Giulio Agricola) if the cobbles rattle your knees.
2. Ruta del Acueducto – Segovia, Spain
Distance: 18 km one way (Segovia to Riofrío Palace)
Surface: Asphalt cycle lane and hard-packed farm tracks
Rental: Mountain bikes at Bike&Roll Segovia, €20 per day.
Start under Segovia’s 28-metre arches, then follow blue signs reading Ruta del Acueducto.
The path traces the buried water channel across cereal fields toward Sierra de Guadarrama.
Riofrío Palace, once a royal hunting lodge, marks the finish; buses return every hour.
3. Valens Greenway – Istanbul, Turkey
Distance: 9 km loop (Fatih district)
Surface: Dedicated bike lane and quiet side streets
Rental: İsbike stations near Yenikapı; 30 TL per hour by smart card.
Istanbul’s municipal greenway follows the surviving spans of the 4th-century Valens Aqueduct,
now a two-level bridge for commuters and pigeons. Expect fast traffic bursts—ride at off-peak times for safety.
Detour into Süleymaniye Mosque courtyard for sweeping Golden Horn views.
Logistics and Etiquette
- Wear a helmet even where not mandatory; cobbled sections jar unexpectedly.
- Carry a reusable bottle—fountains in Rome and Segovia still tap ancient water sources.
- In Istanbul, keep right; pedestrian lanes run parallel and fines apply for encroachment.
Planning a longer cycling holiday? After Rome’s arches, consider our
alpine trail guide
or unwind on the coast with
budget villages of Santorini.
Final Thought
Aqueducts once carried lifeblood to empires; today they carry cyclists past living history.
Pedal these ancient arteries and you will feel both their age and their timeless relevance—all before lunch.
