Los Caños del Peral


Useful Information

Location: Metro Ópera, Pl. de Isabel II, 8, 28013 Madrid.
(40.418132, -3.708993)
Open: All year Fri 16-20, Sat 10-14, 16-20, Sun 10-14.
Only after online reservation.
[2022]
Fee: free.
Valid transport ticket required.
[2022]
Classification: SubterraneaUnderground Railway SubterraneaUnderground Museums
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:  
Guided tours: D=30 min, Max=25.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: yes
Bibliography:  
Address: Museo de los Caños del Peral, Metro Ópera, Pl. de Isabel II, 8, 28013 Madrid.
Museos Metro de Madrid, Tel: +34-644-169-531. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

16th century Fuente de los Caños del Peral (Caños del Peral fountain) built.
17th century Acueducto de Amaniel (Amaniel Aqueduct) built.

Description

Los Caños del Peral (Caños del Peral Museum of Archaeology) is one of numerous underground museums which are related to the Madrid Metro. They are called Andén Cero (Platform Zero) and are managed by Museos Metro de Madrid (Madrid Metro Museums). It is located at the Ópera Metro station below Plaza de Isabel II.

The historic Fuente de los Caños del Peral (Caños del Peral fountain) was obviously once located on the surface and collected the spring water next to the Arenal stream during the second half of the 16th century. At the beginning of the 16th century there was no water supply in the city, the houses had cisterns where they collected rain water duirng the rainy winter. To improve water supply, public fountains were built which were fed by springs through pipes. The water was distributed from the fountains to the houses by water carriers in barrels or earthenware urns of various sizes on donkeys. This fountain had six pipes from the Plazuela de los Caños spring which ended in cisterns or water tanks. It had a 34 m long barrel-vaulted supply gallery. It is reconstructed 10 m below surface on the second level of the station, next to the entrance to the platform for Line 2 towards Las Rosas.

The museum is dedicated to the early water supply system and beneath the fountain there are two more main exhibits. One is the Acueducto de Amaniel (Amaniel Aqueduct) which is located 3.5 km to the north at the Av. de Pablo Iglesias, 57. It provided water to the Royal Palace from the 17th century to the 20th century. And there is the alcantarilla de Arenal (Arenal Sewer). It was built to channel sewage water to the Cuesta de San Vicente river. The museum at the station is dedicated to all three structures and there are information panels and three videos projected in a little amphitheatre.