İncekaya Aqueduct, Ottoman aqueduct in Safranbolu, Turkey.
The İncekaya Aqueduct is a stone structure that spans a canyon with multiple arches cut into the rock face. The water channel runs along the top of the arches, carrying flow from higher elevations down toward the settlement below.
A high-ranking Ottoman official commissioned the structure in the 1790s to bring water to the nearby town. The construction represents how the Ottoman empire managed large infrastructure projects over several years to meet growing urban needs.
The structure served as a vital link in the water supply network that sustained the town. You can still see how the careful stonework reflects the practical skills that communities needed to survive in this landscape.
The best way to view the structure is by walking through the canyon from below or along the trails above. Being located in open terrain means you can visit on nearly any day, though spring and autumn months offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring.
The structure sits within one of Turkey's best-preserved Ottoman towns. The combination of the ancient waterway alongside largely unchanged historic streets gives visitors an unusual glimpse into how settlements functioned before modern times.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
