Explore the Colombo Aqueduct and its surrounding natural environment through a cutting-edge virtual tour created with state-of-the-art technology. Discover this structure by visiting the municipal website www.laorotava.es, where you can experience an innovative design featuring audiovisual technology that provides historical and ethnographic information about this key element of the Villa’s economic heritage.
This project combines aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, 3D modelling, and 3D animation to create realistic images and showcase the entire route of the Colombo Aqueduct.
Promoted by the Department of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, led by Delia Escobar, this initiative offers a dynamic virtual reconstruction enabling viewers to explore the main pipelines running from Aguamansa to the town centre from a spectacular perspective. The tour includes animations, videos, a 3D model, and an interactive map with details on the various components of the structure, including dimensions and distances.
Mayor Francisco Linares praises this initiative for enhancing the cultural heritage of the area and making it more accessible to both residents and visitors. He underscores the council’s commitment to promoting the culture, traditions, and ethnography of the municipality, inviting residents, students, and global citizens to learn about the significant role water transport played in the survival and development of La Orotava.
Through the use of new technologies, the project aims to highlight the cultural significance of water, which has been crucial for the urban, industrial, and social development of La Orotava for centuries.
The origins of such infrastructure trace back to the post-conquest era of Tenerife (15th century) when there was a pressing need to harness water resources. Over the years, various architectural elements such as galleries, aqueducts, canals, and wash houses were constructed to manage and direct water flow in La Orotava.
Originally sourced from the Aguamansa mountains, water had to be channelled to the town centre. The aqueducts were initially built using wood, later transitioning to stone in the 18th century and eventually to masonry-covered pipes. The Colombo Aqueduct, in particular, is an elevated channel supported by pillars.
The Orotava council has restored this aqueduct using its own funds, adhering to guidelines for preserving cultural heritage sites. In 2022, the council repaired deteriorated pillars and preserved pipe sections while also setting up an information stand detailing the aqueduct’s history and significance.
The Colombo Aqueduct stands out as a unique cultural heritage site in La Orotava due to its historical importance, originality, and functional design. As one of the distinctive infrastructure features in the Canary Islands, it holds significant morphological characteristics.
This educational and tourist attraction was developed by Patrimonio Global in partnership with Beedron Record, with expertise from Borja Borges Rodríguez, a specialist in digitising Cultural Heritage.
