Cisterna Àrab (Aljibe Medieval)
This underground cistern, dated by local tradition between the 8th and 10th centuries, is one of the oldest monuments in Quart de Poblet and was listed as a Cultural Heritage Asset (BIC) in 1981. Carved about seven metres down in the square facing the church, with a barrel vault and a stairway over twenty metres long, it once held between 500,000 and 530,000 litres of water brought from the Turia by the Quart irrigation channel. It no longer stores water today and is used as an exhibition space.
Below the square facing the church, about seven metres down, opens the Cisterna Àrab, a cistern carved into the rock that local tradition dates between the 8th and 10th centuries. It is one of the oldest corners of Quart de Poblet and has been protected as a Cultural Heritage Asset since 1981.
What to see underground
A stairway over twenty metres long drops to a chamber roofed with a barrel vault. This is where water brought down from the Turia along the Quart channel was stored: at its peak, between 500,000 and 530,000 litres according to figures recorded in local studies.
For your visit
The tank no longer holds water; the town council uses it as an exhibition space, so the easiest way down is to catch a show or check the opening hours first. Entry is free. The parish church of the Puríssima Concepció is a few steps away, which makes the square a natural starting point for the old town.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost money to visit the Cisterna Àrab in Quart de Poblet?
Entry is free. It no longer holds water and the town council uses it as an exhibition hall, so it is best to go when a show is on.
What is the Cisterna Àrab (Medieval Cistern)?
It is an underground cistern dug about seven metres deep, dated by local tradition to between the 8th and 10th centuries and declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1981.
What makes this cistern special?
A staircase of over twenty metres descends to a barrel-vaulted chamber that once held between 500,000 and 530,000 litres of water brought from the Turia via the Quart irrigation channel.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment and rate
Be the first to comment.