ITALY ~ St. Patrick's Well - Orvieto - Umbria ~

... Great Italian postcard nr 2... an astounding, engineering marvel windowed well... built on a massive limestone overlooking a valley, to store up water... the "Pozzo di San Patrizio" is one of the most famous attractions in this small Umbrian town... the visitor goes down 248 steps down the viral staircase then ascends the same number up a different stair... each has windows into the well shaft giving the impression of an underground tower... looking up the central well shaft is amazing... fascinating to think that donkeys used to go up and down these steps as well as townspeople carrying water... Big Thanks Gian Luca and Raffaella for two wonderful postcards! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

An inscription at the entrance to the well, in Latin, translates as "what nature did not provide, industry has procured".

 St Patrick’s Well was commissioned by orders of Pope Clement VII of the Medicis in order to provide water for the town in the event of a siege. 

It was designed by Antonio da Sangallo and construction completed in 1537. It is 13 metres wide and 53 metres deep and the well shaft is lit by 72 windows. 

Two spiral staircases, each with 248 steps, wind around the cylindrical well shaft. They were designed as a double helix so that those descending to collect water,  did not meet those ascending with their heavy load.

The well of the Rocca, this was its name in the beginning, only took the proverbial name of San Patrizio in the 19thC, when the fortress had lost its military function. The name of the Well has no connection with local characters, but refers to the Irish abyss where St. Patrick used to pray.

Stamp:

Football Players - The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Valentino Mazzola

(Issued 26-01-2019)