The Salguero Aqueduct, built between 1759 and 1804, is part of the infrastructure of the Southern Branch of the Castile Canal, designed to ensure the continuity of the canal’s route over small natural watercourses. Located in the municipality of Villamuriel de Cerrato (Palencia), at kilometer 105.867, its function is to allow passage under the Salguero stream, also known as the Corral stream, guaranteeing flow control and the stability of the hydraulic structure.
The structure consists of a single semicircular arch, with a span of approximately 2 meters and a height of about 1.65 meters. The overall dimensions are approximately 5.50 meters long, 38 meters wide, and 7.90 meters high. It is built entirely of limestone ashlar, a material characteristic of the Canal de Castilla due to its strength and durability. The structure is completed with stone parapets and abutments that channel the water and reinforce the aqueduct’s stability, adapting to the terrain and the canal’s profile.
For the visitor, the Salguero Aqueduct offers a quiet and revealing stop on the canal route, ideal for appreciating a discreet but essential work and understanding how these infrastructures made the continuous operation of the Canal de Castilla possible in harmony with the landscape of the Cerrato.
