The Aqueduto da Amoreira, in Elvas, achieved on Saturday, September 5, a place in the Grand National Final of the New 7 Wonders of Portugal. The Alentejo monument was one of three candidates selected in the Great Works category during the National Semi-Final, held at the National Palace of Sintra and broadcast live by TVI.
In this phase, 49 candidates from across the country were in competition, distributed across the seven categories of the election. Only the three most voted by the public in each category advanced to the final. In the Great Works category, the Aqueduto da Amoreira competed against the 25 de Abril Bridge, the Port of Horta, the Aqueduto da Usseira, the Marina of Portimão, the Roche do Navio Cable Car, and the Aqueduto de Vila do Conde.
The Aqueduto da Amoreira previously passed through the Alentejo and Ribatejo qualifying rounds before reaching the national stage. With this selection, Elvas and the Alto Alentejo are now represented among the 21 national finalists who will compete in the final phase of the competition.
The Grand Final is scheduled for September 12, when the seven winners, one per category, will be announced. The choice remains in the hands of the public, through voting audited by PwC. The selection gives new prominence to one of the most emblematic monuments of the city of Elvas, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.