pozzo di san patrizio (st. patrick's well)

圣帕特里齐奥之井位于缆车终点站附近，城区中心部有点距离，如果没有大行李的话，下缆车后就去看更为方便。此井有60多米深，井的外壁有下井的螺旋台阶。这台阶作的非常巧妙，下去的人与上来的人不交叉，原来是由两条螺旋台阶构成的。下去时，眼睛也逐渐习惯暗处，明暗度不觉得有太大的变化，其实相差相当大，到下面不用闪光灯什么也拍不出来。以前挖这么深的井一定很不容易。即使挑水时，每次上下台阶很辛苦，也必须得在山上生活，按现在的标准，则难以想象。

Pope Clement VII had it built after his escape to Orvieto in 1527 following the "Sack of Rome." Although Clement was able to return to Rome before its completion, the "Well" continued to provide Orvieto with future generations of clean drinking water, an architectural embellishment that still fascinated (and confounds) and a tourist attraction worthy of a stop. NOTE: Do NOT attempt the walk down (hundreds of steps) if you're wearing heels or anything other than sensible shoes. Also, do NOT attempt if you're not in OK shape or if you're claustrophobic or afraid of heights. It's not dangerous, but it IS impressive and somewhat 'daunting' if you're subject to either of those phobias / conditions mentioned above.

Extraordinary when you think about how it works, the way you can see people going up as you are going down, but you never physically pass each other!! Wonderfully cool on a really hot day and able to take at your own pace with a stop or two to admire the view above and below along the way.Only 5 euro adults and 3.50 euro children.... you can't visit Orvieto and not see St Patrick's well!

We had so much fun walking down to the bottom of the well and back. Apparently (according to the audio guide), there are two staircases (double helix), so when you go down one staircase or ramp, you go up a different one. Built between 1527 and 1537, this is an amazing architectural feat. It was fun to take pictures all the way through. It is open later than the Duomo, so if you are running out of time, do this last.

My husband and I knew what this attraction was all about before deciding to enter it, but, we left completely underwhelmed and 20 euro poorer. We had seen Rick Steves' special on Orvieto and knew about the well's history so we wanted to see it in person and maybe learn more about it.Engineering feat aside, there's not much else to marvel at as you walk down the slippery, short steps which are tough on the knees and are at an awkward elevation so you can't quite take 2 steps at a time but taking one begins to wear on you as well. Hold the handrail and be careful as you get deeper; it gets quite dark and some steps are very worn compared to others. As an aside, my husband and I are 31 and 32 years old, so we are not elderly or disabled and are in good health; it just was not a pleasant walk by any means.Perhaps we should have sprung for the audio tour, because there were zero signs anywhere telling you anything about the site otherwise. Luckily, we had some background from Mr. Steves to give us some context.At the bottom you'll have a good opportunity to take some photos looking up to the top and marvel at how far you've walked down, and prepare yourself mentally for the hike back up.One thing that I noticed that was a bit disconcerting is that the metal exit turnstile is VERY narrow; I don't see how an adult with a few more pounds on them could make it through, honestly. Maybe there was another way out in that situation, but it struck me as odd and a potential issue.

Walk all the way down this well and than all the way up again. Amazing site. Entrance cost EURO10.00 per person. A little pricy but worth it.

Pretty much just a trip down to the bottom then back up. Though the depth and engineering feat itself make it work the trip

The Pozza di San Patrizio is very cool, both in temperature and in design. It was built in 1527, commissioned by the Pope to provide water to the town in the event of a siege. The double helix design is most impressive, as it ensured that the mules could move unimpeded in either direction. Although it's "only" 248 steps, we found it necessary to stop periodically to catch our breath on the way back up. The windows carved into the structure provided great interior views as you made the trek. We definitely enjoyed the experience.

Took a day trip from Roma to Orvieto, and one of the things we wanted to do was descend the steps into the Pozzo di San Patrizio. Took the train into town, then went up the funicular to the walled city. The well is just to the left of the funicular station along a well marked pathway leading to entrance. It was really neat descending the stairs, with portholes along the way where you could stick your head out to see your progress. Steps were very wide and carved in the spiraling stone, so basically you were taking a couple steps per step. There was no handrail along the way, just the carved walls to balance against. Once on the bottom a little bridge took you across the water-filled well (strewn with euro's that people have thrown for good luck) to a duplicate pair of steps where you began your ascent. The double-helix design of the well meant you had no contention from visitors making their way down, I guess it was designed this way so the mules could descend/ascend without running into each other. Worth the trip, and some great pictures from the bottom up (and along the way down). Once on the top, an iron swinging gate is your last challenge ... which wasn't designed to accommodate a larger person. So even if a larger person had the physical fortitude to make the trip, it could be possible they wouldn't make it through the exit gate. Might want to check the exit out (on the other side of the entrance) first just to make sure.In a word, I'd do it again ... it was fun ... a nice walk, cool temperature, and a great photo op!!!Jeff and JanetMacedonia, Ohio

Interesting how they designed a double helix circulation system for the mules that were bringing the water up. One path down, the other up. But it's a LOT of steps. While we usually rise to a challenge, once down maybe 20-% of the way we did a re-think. "OK, we get it. Got some great photos across the well - up, down. What more could there be?"And called it quits, walked back up the down and out.So, interesting, different ... maybe unique ... but don't feel you have to do all 500 +/- steps to 'get it'.

While in Orvieto, it's worth the lovely walk down to St. Patrick's Well, a short stroll from the Funicular you take down to the train station. St. Patrick's Well is a long staircase down is there easy part, coming back is tough if you have trouble walking. But it's an interesting experience. As others have suggested, read about St. Patrick's Well before visiting as you won't learn much from the on-site information.

Read up about Pozzo di San Patrizio before going here, it'll make the visit more meaningful as there are no guides. This was one of the places we explored during a photography trek in Umbria and we came away with some incredible shots. The 'double helix' design of the steps is amazing. The steps are unusual as they were designed to make it easy for donkeys to haul water. Don't attempt to climb this if you are out of shape, have mobility/cardiac/pulmonary/environmental allergy issues. The 300 steps down mean 300 steps up!

While fortunate enough to visit this slice of Heaven the beauty of this small ancient attraction is free and very beautiful,easy to locate. Another "must see"in Italy.

If you're a romantic with imagination, visit 'St Patrick's Well'. It is a wonderful and accomplished piece of early civil engineering in itself, but try to get inside the head of the guy who came up with the solution to the access challenge; a double helix! He was ahead of the game on this one. Go see it for yourself.

If you have bottomless pockets in Italy, then you have pockets as deep as il Pozzo di San Patrizio. Which is pretty deep, 53m to be exact. This well is no bucket on a rope but a unique structure, completed in 1537, to provide water for Orvieto. The wall of the well is a double spiral staircase – 248 steps on each – to enable donkeys carrying empty barrels to descend without meeting their water-carrying brethren coming up. It is quite a descent and quite an ascent too, but my grandchildren loved it, so much so that they wanted to go back the next day. I enjoyed it too, although I was somewhat slower. The well is by the large car park and funicular in Piazza Cahen, and has a second advantage in being nicely cool on a hot day.