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Monument · Orvieto, Úmbria
Pozzo di San Patrizio
Renaissance well 54 metres deep excavated in the tuff by order of Pope Clement VII, with two spiral staircases that do not cross, lit by 72 windows.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Pozzo di San Patrizio
The Pozzo di San Patrizio was dug between 1527 and 1537 by order of Pope Clement VII, who took refuge in Orvieto after the Sack of Rome and feared the city might be besieged without water. The design was by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, the same architect of the Rocca Paolina of Perúgia.
The well is 54 meters deep and 13 meters in diameter. The solution is ingenious: two spiral ramps, one above the other, that do not meet. Donkeys went down one, carried water and came up the other, without crossing those going the opposite way. The ramps are lit by 72 windows opening onto the center of the well.
There are 248 steps to the bottom, where a bridge crosses the water. Above the entrance, an inscription in Latin says, freely translated, that human ingenuity supplied what nature did not give. The work was completed in the time of Pope Paul III, whose lilies appear in the exterior decoration.
The name appeared only in the 19th century, given by the Servite friars by association with the grotto of São Patrício in Ireland, which according to legend led to the beyond.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 to 45 minutes to go down and back up.
Best time
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon. In summer the interior is cool, but the climb is tiring.
How to get there
It is on the Piazza Cahen, at the eastern tip of the town, next to the Rocca Albornoz and the upper funicular stop. From the Duomo it's about a 10-minute walk along the Corso Cavour.
Tip
There are 248 steps down and another 248 up, with no elevator: wear comfortable shoes and go at your own pace. On the exit, the adjacent gardens of the Rocca Albornoz offer views over the valley.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Pozzo di San Patrizio
How many steps does the Pozzo di San Patrizio have?
There are 248 steps in each of the two spiral ramps, one to go down and the other to come up.
Why does the well have two staircases?
So that the animals carrying water could go down one and come up the other without crossing paths.
Is the visit tiring?
The descent is easy, but climbing back up the 248 steps requires stamina. There is no elevator.
Why is it called San Patrizio?
The name was given in the 19th century in reference to the legendary cave of Saint Patrick in Ireland, said to be an entrance to the beyond.