The Devil's Last Stone

Rising dramatically above the streets of Segovia, the ancient Roman aqueduct is one of Spain’s most iconic landmarks. Its perfectly aligned stones, stretching for over 800 meters and standing tall without mortar, are a marvel of engineering. Yet among its seemingly flawless structure, one stone is conspicuously missing — a small gap that has sparked curiosity and legend for centuries. Beyond its historical grandeur, the aqueduct carries a story whispered in the city’s alleys and squares — a tale of desperation, cunning, and a pact with the devil.

The Legend Behind the Stones

Long before the aqueduct brought water to the heart of Segovia, the city’s residents faced a daily struggle. Water had to be hauled uphill from distant springs, a task particularly grueling for young women who carried heavy jugs along steep, winding streets.

According to local folklore, one such young water carrier grew so weary of her labor that she exclaimed, in frustration, that she would give anything if water could come to her doorstep.

Her words, it is said, summoned the devil himself, who offered a bargain: he would build an aqueduct overnight to bring water to the city — in exchange for the young woman’s soul. Desperate and tired, she agreed.

The devil and his helpers toiled furiously through the night, stacking stones and crafting arches in impossible precision. Yet as dawn approached, the rooster crowed, and the last stone remained unplaced. The devil had failed. Because the task was unfinished before the first crow, he lost his claim to the young woman’s soul.

Marks of Myth — and Mastery

Walk beneath the aqueduct’s arches and you’ll notice tiny holes and irregular marks on the stones. Legend says these are the devil’s footprints or claw marks — evidence of his frustration and failed pact.

The reality is just as fascinating: those holes were made by lifting clamps, or “claw-like hooks,” used by Roman builders to move and position the massive granite blocks. Workers would attach these metal clamps to the stones, lift them into place, and then remove them — leaving behind the holes that generations later sparked a story of a thwarted devil.

Today, Segovia honors this captivating legend with a sculpture of the city’s little devil — the mischievous ‘architect’ behind the aqueduct. The figure depicts the defeated devil clutching the final stone that was never set, capturing a cheeky snapshot of himself alongside his unfinished work.

Estatua del diablo Segodeus

So, whether you believe in deals with the devil or marvel at Roman engineering, walking beneath Segovia’s towering arches is to feel history and myth intertwined. Every stone tells a story — some real, some imagined — and in Segovia, even legends leave a mark.