An ancient Italian saying goes “it's like Saint Patrick's well” to indicate an interminable challenging endeavor with no apparent logic. But does a well with this name really exist?
Yes, it actually does and it's located in Italy, in a splendid city in Umbria called Orvieto.
This architectural and urbanistic jewel in Alta Val Tiberina is situated between Latium, Umbria and Tuscany and it plunges its roots in mysterious ancient times. With its magnificent gothic Dome and its old town center castled on top of a hill dominating river Tiber, Orvieto has always represented an irresistible place to live in, especially for Etruscans. It has been an important commercial, artistic and military center and it is still considered a magic place by its inhabitants.
People believed that Orvieto was a sacred town, indissolubly linked to the element of water and to Earth's depths. This mysterious aura also encloses one of the most intriguing and significant monuments in Orvieto, Saint Patrick's Well.
Finished in 1537, the well was projected and built by Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane on order of Pope Clement VII, who had found shelter in Orvieto after the Sack of Rome (1527). The well had to provide water to Albornoz castle in case of siege, it was 62 meters deep and it presented two double-helical staircases which did not cross and could therefore accelerate water's transport.
But why is there a well named after Saint Patrick in Orvieto, as he spent his life in Ireland?
Actually, the legend tells that the Saint prayed near a deep cavern in Northern Ireland where he could get in contact with the afterworld. The cave was also called "Saint Patrick's Purgatory" and it was shut down by Alexander VI Borgia in 1457. However, its memory spread all over Christian Europe through the "Via Francigena", reaching cities like Orvieto. And it's here that a well was built almost one century later and where it also adopted a strong spiritual meaning.
Actually, climbing down its 248 stairway steps will make you reach Earth's depths surrounded by an Infernal unknown darkness after a strange “atonement process”. This mystic experience will end with water, symbol of purity and life and it will make you feel incredible emotions which cannot be described in words, but need to be lived in first person.
The tradition wants that whoever visits this well throws a coin in it, as it is believed that this action will help you to return to Orvieto once again.
Meanwhile, book now one of our properties near the city center to organize a wonderful vacation in thic locality! We recommend our Casale Porano!
