The man was was spotted posing on top of the historic Segovia aqueduct – with emergency services rushing to the scene fearing he was in danger before slapping him with a fine
Holidaymakers in Spain are being urged to stay vigilant when taking selfies – after one man was fined thousands for snapping a photograph at a famous aqueduct.
The tourist was spotted posing on top of the historic Segovia aqueduct – a 29 metre high structure built during the Roman Empire in the second half of the 1st century A.D. The ancient city of Segovia, which sits northwest of Madrid in central Spain’s Castile and León region, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The aqueduct, with its two tiers of arches, was built to channel water from springs in the mountains 17 kilometres away to the city’s fountains, public baths and private houses – and was in use until 1973. The tourist was spotted 25 metres above ground and spooked emergency services, who rushed to the scene fearing he could have intended to harm himself.
He was seen wearing a hat and sunglasses, and standing on the edge of the aqueduct about to pose for a selfie. After being identified, local police slapped him with a fine of between £1,200-£2,400 for civil disobedience.
Holidaymakers who plan to visit the historic site are now being warned to make sure they’re keeping in line with the city’s strict set of rules. Those found leaning on the old structure or caught defacing the aqueduct with graffiti or other paintings could face a penalty in the thousands. It is also an offence to lean bicycles, bags or other materials against it.
The aqueduct, which lights up at night, runs for nine miles and attracts travellers who are willing to spend a day walking the length of it while snapping pictures from various angles.
To get to the Segovia Aqueduct, you can take a train or drive from Madrid, or walk from the Alcázar. There is a high-speed AVE train from Madrid’s Chamartín Station to Segovia’s Guiomar train station. Those travelling by car can travel along the A-6 from Madrid, then exit onto the AP-6 and AP-61. Take the exit onto San Rafael, which will lead you into the city center of Segovia and to the Aqueduct.
