In the family we often say “I’m not Saint Patrick’s Well” when our daughters ask for a new game as a gift.
This expression has now entered the common lexicon when one wants to indicate that one does not have a hidden and boundless reserve of riches.
But the Saint Patrick’s Well really exists and is located in Orvieto, in the province of Terni.
And so, finding ourselves in Umbria on the road trip who took us from Genoa to see wonderful villages, summer blooms, and parks with monsters, we couldn’t miss a stop in Orvieto and its Saint Patrick’s Well.
Background
The famous Saint Patrick’s Well was designed in 1527 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger at the behest of Pope Clement VII, to supply water to the city of Orvieto in the event of a prolonged siege.
Initially, it was called Pozzo della Rocca due to its proximity to the Rocca di Albornoz.
Only in 1800, it assumed its current name of Saint Patrick’s Well as its depth was compared to that of an Irish cave where Saint Patrick retired to pray.
The well is an engineering masterpiece characterized by two helical staircases that never meet, in fact one goes down and the other goes back up.
The two diametrically opposed doors allowed the mules not to get in the way during the operation of transporting the extracted water.
Informations for the visit with children
The Well is 54 meters deep and the spiral staircase consists of 248 steps. You cannot go with a stroller so a baby carrier or baby carrier backpack is recommended.
The steps themselves are low and passable easily even by small children who walk.
The visit takes very little time: between getting off, going back up and taking some photos, it takes at most 15/20 minutes.
For example, we left the stroller near the entrance and picked up our one and a half year old daughter while the other three and a half year old went on her own without any problems.
Saint Patrick’s Well Orvieto
Saint Patrick’s Well does not have a ticket office therefore you must arrive already equipped with a ticket which you can scan independently at the turnstile at the entrance and enter.
Go down the ramp that leads into the depths – the well is not dark because it is illuminated by 72 windows – and you arrive at a small bridge that connects to another staircase which is the one to take to go back up.
Attention – To go down and up, there are two separate stairs. Being all automated – there is no staff to ask – the front door only opens to let people in so if you go back up from the same side, you won’t be able to get out and you will have to go down and up on the other side.
It may be useful to know that near the well there is a fountain where you can fill your water bottle and a paid toilet (€0.50).
Where to buy the ticket and how much it costs
The entrance ticket for the Saint Patrick’s Well costs €5.00 for an adult – free for children under 6 years of age – and can be purchased at the ticket office located in Piazza Cahen, in the arrival station of the funicular.
If you have an entrance ticket to visit the Pozzo della Cava, you will be entitled to a €1.50 discount.
Opening hours and how to get there
Saint Patrick’s Well is open every day from 9:00 to 19:30.
The ticket office hours are 9:00-20:00 every day.
To find out how to get to the Saint Patrick’s Well in Orvieto, I refer you to this article.
Keep reading:
1. Visit to the Pozzo della Cava
