In the dimly lit corridors of the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine, a peculiar relic sits preserved in a glass jar—a severed head, yellowed with age, its vacant eyes frozen in time. This eerie exhibit is all that remains of Diogo Alves, one of Portugal’s most notorious criminals. His story, riddled with violence, deception, and scientific curiosity, has outlived him by nearly two centuries, turning him into an odd blend of historical villain and macabre curiosity.
From Galicia to Lisbon: The Making of a Killer
Diogo Alves—originally Diego Álvarez—was born in 1810 in Galicia, Spain, to a relatively wealthy family. Unlike the stereotypical poverty-driven criminal, Alves came from a comfortable background. However, an early incident may have marked his trajectory towards brutality. As a child, he fell from a horse and struck his head—an accident that earned him the nickname “Pancada” (Portuguese for “blow” or “knock”). Whether this head injury contributed to his later violent tendencies remains a matter of speculation, but it has led to retrospective discussions about head trauma and criminal behaviour.
At the age of nineteen, his parents sent him to Lisbon, Portugal, in search of a better future. The Portuguese capital was bustling, a city of stark contrasts between wealth and crushing poverty. Like many young immigrants, Alves struggled to find steady work, moving from one menial job to another before ultimately slipping into a life of petty crime, drinking, and gambling.
His fate took a dark turn when he met Maria Gertrudes, an innkeeper known as “Parreirinha” (“little grapevine”). It is believed that Maria not only encouraged his criminal inclinations but also became an accomplice, helping Alves build a small gang of thieves and murderers. Whether she actively incited him to kill or simply fostered an environment where violence became routine is unclear, but her role in his criminal career cannot be understated.
The Aqueduct Murders: A Lethal Ploy
Between 1836 and 1840, Alves orchestrated a chilling series of crimes that earned him the grim title of “The Aqueduct Murderer”. His hunting ground was the Águas Livres Aqueduct, a monumental structure towering 60 metres (197 feet) above the city. The aqueduct, a marvel of 18th-century engineering, had become a notorious site for suicides. Alves exploited this reputation with chilling ingenuity.
His method was brutally efficient. He would ambush solitary travellers crossing the aqueduct, rob them, and then hurl them over the edge. The long fall ensured an instant death, and because the aqueduct was already associated with suicides, authorities initially saw no reason to investigate further. This allowed Alves to continue his killing spree unchecked. An estimated 70 victims perished this way, making him one of Portugal’s most prolific serial murderers.
Despite the mounting body count, Alves might have escaped justice indefinitely had he not expanded his criminal activities beyond the aqueduct.
The Fall of Alves: A Bloodbath in a Doctor’s Home
Alves’ downfall came not from his signature aqueduct killings but from a more conventional crime—a home invasion that turned into a massacre. Seeking greater profits, Alves and his gang broke into the residence of a prominent doctor, murdering four members of the family in cold blood. This crime, unlike his aqueduct murders, left behind clear evidence of human intervention, sparking a full-scale investigation.
Among those arrested was Maria Gertrudes’ own daughter, an 11-year-old girl named Maria da Conceição. Under pressure from authorities, she testified against Alves and his associates, revealing damning details about their activities. Her testimony sealed Alves’ fate, leading to his conviction and subsequent sentencing to death.
Trial, Execution, and the Aftermath
On 19 February 1841, Diogo Alves and one of his accomplices, Celleiro, were executed by hanging. Contrary to popular belief, he was not the last person to be hanged in Portugal, but he remains one of the most infamous.
His execution, however, was not the end of his story.
A Severed Head and the Rise of Phrenology
At the time of Alves’ death, phrenology—a now-discredited field of science—was at its peak. Phrenologists believed that personality traits and criminal tendencies could be determined by studying the shape and structure of the skull. Alves, having been one of the most notorious criminals of his time, became a prime subject for post-mortem study.
Immediately after his execution, scientists from the Medical-Surgical School of Lisbon severed his head and preserved it in a solution of formaldehyde, intending to study it for insights into the mind of a murderer. However, no significant scientific study was ever conducted, and the head remained eerily untouched in its glass container.
The preserved head later became part of a phrenology cabinet assembled by José Lourenço da Luz Gomes, which housed skulls of executed criminals. Over time, Alves’ head was moved to different locations before finding its final resting place at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine, where it remains today.
The Legacy of Diogo Alves
Alves’ legacy is a strange blend of history, folklore, and scientific oddity. While Portugal has seen its share of criminals, none have left behind such a morbidly tangible relic. His story raises questions about early criminology, the fascination with preserved human remains, and the lengths to which 19th-century science went in the pursuit of knowledge.
In modern times, his head remains a bizarre attraction, only viewable by students of the medical school. Some view it as a gruesome reminder of a violent past, while others see it as an enduring relic of pseudo-science and human curiosity.
Whatever perspective one takes, Diogo Alves’ severed head ensures that his name—and his crimes—will never be forgotten.
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