Pozzo di S. Patrizio
Encyclopedia
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
, Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, central Italy. It was built by Antonio da Sangallo
Antonio da Sangallo
Antonio da Sangallo may refer to:* Antonio da Sangallo the Elder , Florentine architect* Antonio da Sangallo the Younger , , Florentine architect and the Elder's nephew...
of Orvieto, between 1527 and 1537, at the behest of Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
.
The well, designed to provide water in case of disaster or siege, was completed during the papacy of Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
.
Access to the water is provided by two spiral ramps, served by two separate doors, which allowed mules to carry the water along an unobstructed path.
The well is 53.15 metres (174.4 ft) deep, cylindrical, with a base diameter of 13 metres (42.7 ft). There are 248 steps, and 70 windows provide illumination.