The course of the streams

At the foot of the Collserola mountains, Nou Barris has always contained infrastructure that is associated with Barcelona’s water supply, and thishas left a remarkable architectural legacy. The Ciutat Meridiana aqueduct is one of the most important examples of this legacy and it rises majestically over the district despite being no longer in use.

This waterway was part of the Baix Vallès aqueduct, which was designed by Andreu Marí and funded by the banker Manel Girona. It was built in the late nineteenth century, prompted by the fact that Barcelona was growing and the Comtal canal and wells were becoming insufficient to supply the city. The aqueduct was 18 kilometres long and diverted 1,700 cubic metres of water a day from the Ripoll and Caldes brooks.

Reviving history

Among the residential buildings that define Nou Barris today, the Ciutat Meridiana aqueduct stands out as one of the few remaining historic monuments in the district. For this reason, in 2012, the Mestre Morera School worked with the Museu d’Història de Barcelona on a joint project called “Patrimonia’m” which promoted the conservation of the Ciutat Meridiana aqueduct and recognised its historical significance.