In Orvieto, there is an incredible feat of Renaissance engineering that ensured the city’s water supply even during a prolonged siege.
It is St. Patrick’s Well, and it is one of the most beautiful sights to visit on your trip to Umbria. The well is located in the center of Orvieto and was commissioned in 1527 by Pope Clement VII to Antonio da San Gallo the Younger to ensure the city’s water supply in the event of a siege.
The history of the well is inextricably linked to the legend of St. Patrick, of Irish origin, which tells of an incredible cave in the rock of Donegal, Ireland. According to the story, the cave was revealed to St. Patrick by Christ so that he could show the torments of Hell to the faithful who reached the bottom, thereby obtaining the remission of their sins in return.
