Águas Livres Aqueduct

Built in the 18th century to carry water into Lisbon, the Águas Livres Aqueduct is one of the most striking pieces of civil engineering in Europe, and its towering Gothic arches make for powerful architectural photography. The most dramatic section crosses the Alcântara valley, where the arches reach up to 65 meters tall, giving you a sense of scale that is hard to find elsewhere. Position yourself low and wide at the base of the tallest arches to emphasize their height, or step back to capture a longer sequence of arches receding into the distance as a strong leading line. A wide-angle lens works well for the valley perspective, while a telephoto helps compress the repeating arches from a distance. Early morning offers soft, even light and minimal crowds; the structure also holds up well on overcast days when harsh shadows are avoided. You can walk along the top of the aqueduct itself for an unusual elevated vantage point looking out over the city. (Lisbon, Portugal)