ESTAÇÃO ELEVATÓRIA A VAPOR DOS BARBADINHOS

At the end of the 1800s, the large aqueduct built to carry water to Lisbon became insufficient. That is why a second, final reservoir was built, as well as a steam station with the aim of distributing water throughout the city. The latter was installed in a former Franciscan convent to which it owes its name "barbadinhos", since Italian brothers with a beard (barba in Portuguese) lived there. The objective was to bring the water from the Alviela River up to the Penha de França reservoirs. It was in operation from 1880 to 1928; replaced by a new electrical station, it was deactivated in 1950. Today, the EPAL water company invites you to visit this large hall, which has been transformed into a museum. Just the space itself is impressive. On the first floor, you can admire the four steam machines unique in Europe and manufactured by a French company E. Windsor & Fils, a rare example in industrial archaeology. A more recent part houses the permanent exhibition of the Museu da Água and invites visitors to discover water in several aspects: history, science, technology and environmental sustainability. This museum is one of the four nuclei that make up the Museu da Água (the Aqueduct, the reservoir of Mãe d'Água and the reservoir of Patriarchal) although it is off-centre compared to the others. The nearest metro station is a 10-minute walk from Santa Apolónia station.