▲Historical arches and aqueducts are masterpieces that have become symbols of many major cities around the world. But in the past, they served other purposes.

Most arches were constructed to honor victories by empires or simply as decoration. Aqueducts had a practical use—they helped pass water to cities and fuel its people.

In this gallery we present to you the most incredible and impressive arches and aqueducts on the planet. Click through this gallery and check it out!

▲This majestic arch was built in Rome at the behest of the Roman Senate to honor the Emperor Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. The monument is located next to the Roman Coliseum.

▲This incredible arch is located in Paris and was built by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to pay homage to his military victories. The monument is located on Charles de Gaulle Square near Champs-Elysees and was inaugurated in 1836.

▲It is believed that this monument was built by the Romans around the 1st century AD. It is one of the oldest and most well-preserved aqueducts left by the empire.

▲Located in Elvas, this magnificent aqueduct is about 8.5 km long and has more than five arches that rise up to 31 m. Construction ended around 1620 and it was then that water entered inside the walls of the city for the first time. Today, this monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

▲Caesarea Maritima was a town situated near the Mediterranean Sea, built in the first century AD by Herod the Great.

▲This is another beautiful Roman aqueduct and also one of the best preserved structures of the Iberian Peninsula. It is situated in the Spanish city of Mérida and is believed to have been built by the Romans around the first century AD.

▲This impressive monument is more than 200 m long and carried water from the Francolí River to the Spanish city of Tarragona.

▲This arch was built to honor the military victories of Titus, a former Roman emperor. This arch served as reference for several triumphal arches built after the 16th century, including the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

▲This grand French arch in Montpellier was built to honor Louis XIV and is one of the symbols of this French commune.

▲This arch was designed by the architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in 1888. It is one of the symbols of Barcelona.

▲This impressive construction in Rio de Janeiro is also known as Lapa Arches. It is considered the largest architectural work undertaken in Brazil during the colonial period. Today, it is a picturesque spot that draws in tourists.

▲This is one of many historical sites in Istanbul. It was built around the 4th century and has since undergone several modifications. It is one of the best-preserved ancient historical remains in Turkey.

▲This ultra-sophisticated arch in St. Louis, Missouri was designed by the Finnish architect Eero Saarinen in 1947. It is 200 m high and was inaugurated in 1968. The monument is an iconic symbol of the city.

▲This bridge is actually a portion of a Roman aqueduct situated in the south of France, near Remoulins, Uzes, and Nîmes. The remnants of the construction are a historical landmark that enchants tourists.

▲This incredible arch in Lisbon was inaugurated in 1815. The monument acts as a gateway to the city.

▲This aqueduct was built by John V of Portugal in the 18th century. Today, it is a historical landmark that survived the 1755 earthquake.

▲The Arch of Caracalla is a Roman triumphal arch located in Djémila, Algeria. It is believed to have been built in the 3rd century in honor of Emperor Caracalla.

▲The Arch of Trajan is a Roman triumphal monument located in the city of Timgad, near the province of Batna in Algeria. It was built sometime between the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century.

▲This arch in Marseille was inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome and was built in the first quarter of the 19th century by Étienne-Jules Ramey and David D'Angers.

▲More than 200 mlong and 76 m high, the Ponte delle Torri in Spoleto is a colossal piece of work with ten arches that connects Sant'Elia and Monteluco.

▲The city of Madrid also has a triumphal arch. It was erected between 1953 and 1956 under the command of Francisco Franco with the purpose of celebrating the victory in the civil war.

▲Located in the north-west corner of the Forum in Rome, this monumental Roman arch was built to commemorate the victories against the Parthians.

▲This monument was erected around 1809 at the behest of Napoleon I. It is located at Carousel Square, near the Louvre museum in Paris.

▲This Roman amphitheater is in Verona and is one of the best-preserved antique structures in Italy.

▲This monument is one of the remains of the Romans in the city of Tarragona. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000.

▲This incredible Renaissance work of hydraulic engineering was built with the purpose of supplying the Portuguese city of Évora with water. It was inaugurated in the year 1537 and built during the reign of John III of Portugal.

▲This monument was built to honor the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city.