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“In Perugia one breathes grace, kindness and a kind of moral sweetness as if dissolved in the air. Inside the circle of the walls of Perugia there are signs of all centuries and of all styles, from the Etruscan to the neoclassical. Perugia is among the densest capitals of art” –
Guido Piovene, journalist and writer

With these beautiful words dedicated to Perugia, we kick off this new column: the cities to visit all in one go in one day!

Welcome to Perugia, the city of chocolate, of Jazz, of art, of fashion, of the millenary history of the Etruscans up to today.
The city on a “human scale” that you can easily visit on foot, strolling through the squares and alleys, admiring its breathtaking views and tasting the traditional specialties.
You are ready? Comfortable shoes and desire to photograph

You are ready? Comfortable shoes and desire to photograph

1. Piazza IV Novembre and the Fontana Maggiore
Let’s start immediately with the heart of the city, the Piazza as postcard symbol of Perugia, located at the end of Corso Vannucci, the main street which is nicely defined by the Perugians as the “vasca”, symbology with the pools of the swimming pools due to its long and the typical walk back and forth between boutiques, traditional and fusion restaurants, historical pastry shops, and chocolate shops. The Fontana Maggiore was built in Gothic style between 1275 and 1278 by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano: there are 50 engraved bas-reliefs and 24 statues representing the 12 months of the year with the main agricultural activities and the zodiac signs and with stories of the old and new Testament. The 24 statuettes are the representation of saints and mythological and biblical characters as well as the representation of the Griffin, the symbol of the city of Perugia.
A stone’s throw from the Fountain there is access to the Archaeological Excavation of Perugia Underground, a beautiful dive into the past walking through the Etruscan and then Roman streets.
Click here 

2. Palazzo dei Priori
An elegant Gothic-style building with mullioned windows dating back to the 12th century. Today it is the seat of the Municipality and of the National Gallery of Umbria, which hosts the Perugino Exhibition  until June 2023 for the 500th anniversary of his death, as well as masterpieces of Italian art from the Middle Ages to the 16th century. On the ground floor of Palazzo dei Priori there are also the Collegio del Cambio and the Collegio della Mercanzia along Corso Vannucci.
You could take advantage of a tasty chocolate tasting, an essential experience in the sweetest city in Italy.
Click here

3. Porta Sole
From here the panorama is breathtaking. Porta Sole is one of the 5 gates forming part of the ancient city walls of Perugia, and also one of the Medieval District of the Center.
Stop for a second and admire the panorama, the ancient walls still visible and the very suggestive long staircase of Via delle Prome which lead you directly to the Etruscan Arch.

Also mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy, in Canto XI of Paradise

«Between Tupino and the water that descends
of the hill elected by Blessed Ubaldo
fertile coast of high mountain hangs
hence Perugia feels cold and hot
from Porta Sole, and weeps for them in return
for heavy yoke Nocera with Gualdo

4. Etruscan Arch
Also known as the Arch of Augustus, it is another of the gateways to Perugia. Built in the 3rd century BC and remodeled in 40 BC by Augustus. Beautiful and imposing, it will leave you speechless.

5. Acquedotto
Now that I’ve made you walk downhill, it’s time to make you walk uphill, along the Aqueduct, but it’s an experience that you absolutely cannot miss in Perugia. The Aqueduct is in fact famous for its staircase which, however, does not change here, remaining still (Semicitation of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone “Stairs like to change“)!
At the top, take a breath and turn around. The view of the ancient medieval aqueduct that supplied the Fontana Maggiore is beautiful.

6.Rocca Paolina and the Carducci Gardens
At this point you have returned to the Centre, a “vasca” in Corso Vannucci and you are on the opposite side of Piazza IV Novembre. Here you can rest in the Carducci Gardens on one of the benches overlooking the wonderful panorama of Umbria, you will admire the newly restored statue of Perugino.
You are then ready to descend under the Rocca Paolina, a fortress dating back to the 16th century and commissioned by Pope Paul III. Today it is a connection point between Piazza Partisan (where you will find the bus terminal and the parking lot) but also a beautiful historic place where art exhibitions and markets (like the Christmas ones) are set up.
An idea to experience Perugia between experiences and overnight stays?

The Campello sul Clitunno district is divided into Campello Alto and Campello Basso: the first fortified around the Castle dating back to the 9th-10th century and wanted by the knight from Burgundy, Rovero di Campeaux and the second near the Fonti del Clitunno.

A natural jewel: the Fonti del Clitunno
Crystalline springs at the foot of Mount Brunette, with bright colors that shine with the sun’s rays, creating plays of light, shadows and reflections of the vegetation that is reflected in these waters, sending an image of absolute purity and spirituality.

Already known in Roman times and many poets and writers such as Pliny, Virgil, Propertius, Juvenal, extol their praises in their legacies, speaking of an absolutely suggestive place. The river was revered as a natural element personified by the God Clitunno: its waters so pure as to make those who immersed themselves in it immaculate.

Again the Sources taken up in Corot’s paintings and praised again by Lord Byron in the fourth canto of Child Harold dedicated to Umbria:

“But you, or Clitunno! from your sweetest wave of the brightest crystal that ever sheltered a river nymph, to look inside and bathe her limbs where nothing hid them, you raise your grassy banks along which the milk-white bullock grazes; O thou – purest God of mild waters, and most serene of aspect, and most limpid, indeed thy current was not desecrated by carnage – mirror and pool for Beauty’s youngest daughters”

The very rich vegetation and biodiversity make the Fonti del Clitunno a small paradise among cypress poplars and weeping willows which with their foliage adorn the landscape and frame the waters, are strongly linked to Napoleon: in fact, it is said that they come from the place where the ‘Emperor on Saint Helena. The vegetation on the seabed is also rich such as: wild sedanine, aquatic horsetail and aquatic nasturtium.

Temple of Clitunno
Not far from the Fonti del Clitunno, there is the small but wonderful Tempietto del Clitunno, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011.
Built in the early Christian era (it is assumed between the 5th and 7th centuries) with salvaged elements from the pagan sacellums (from the Latin sacellum, dim. of sacrum “sacred enclosure”) of the god Clitunno, today it is part of the seven jewels of ” The Lombards in Italy. Places of Power”.
On the tympanum it is still possible to see the decorations showing pomegranate and a bunch of grapes: if the first symbolizes fertility, grapes and more particularly wine is the symbol of the Eucharist.

“And on your happy shore a Temple, of minute and delicate structure, still keeps the memory of you on the gentle slope of a hill; beneath it flows your placid current; often leaps forth from it the darting fish with glittering scales, which dwells and plays in your crystalline depth; while perhaps some lost water lily flower floats by where the less deep wave still repeats its bubbling tales”
Lord Byron

In Green painted Green
In addition to the natural wonders, the historical ones and still those linked to Trebbiano Spoletino, the hills of Campello are adorned with green olive trees which are still cultivated today with traditional methods and make Campelli one of the paths of the olive grove.
The olive tree has Etruscan origins and was later spread by the Romans as a luxury item. Pliny the Younger himself had several hectares in Umbria dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees.

What remains of this story is the hope of being able to experience a place absolutely full of beauty accompanied by a glass of Trebbiano Spoletino and a slice of warm bread with local oil and admire, as Lord Byron, Carducci did and Pliny, the marvel of Campello sul Clitunno.

Every year, on May 15, Gubbio prepares for the Festival of Ceri, a very ancient and folkloric popular tradition that draws its origins, the pagan ones, from ancient propitiatory rites that the ikuvini (the original Italian name of the Eugubini) dedicated to the divinities present in the seven Tables of Gubbio, in particular the Goddess Ceres and which are now kept in the Palazzo dei Consoli.
Another origin, purely Christian, celebrates the Patron Saint of Gubbio, Sant’Ubaldo starting from May 1160, on the anniversary of his death.

The Festival of Ceri is a tradition deeply felt by the Eugubini and which tells the story of a people that draws the strength of being from its roots: among the protagonists of this festival there are the Ceraioli, those who carry the Cero and which involves them also as a tradition to be handed down from father to son.

The Ceri, kept in the Church of Sant’Ubaldo during the year, are wooden structures built in the shape of octagonal prisms that overlap. In order to reinforce the structure, inside the wooden prism there is a frame made up of an axis and the part that protrudes is called “timicchione“: the one placed at the top becomes the support for hoisting the Saint, while the one at “barella“, is used by the Ceraioli to carry it during the race through the streets of the town until you reach Monte Igino, where the Basilica del Santo is located with the remains placed in 1194.
The Saints who are instead transported on the Ceri by the Ceraioli are, in addition to Sant’Ubaldo, San Giorgio, Sant’Antonio, in the order in which they parade. If Sant’Ubaldo is the Patron of Gubbio, San Giorgio is the protector of merchants and Sant’Antonio of farmers.

The route of the Corsa dei Ceri, which starts from the Chiesa dei Neri, is about 4 km long and then ends with a big party in the characteristic alleys of Gubbio among food and wine tastings, shows and music.

In short, a real celebration, felt and loved by the Eugubini as well as by all the Umbrian people and which every year attracts many visitors and tourists, curious to discover an ancient tradition rich in history and peculiarities.

Since 1973 the Ceri have even become the symbol of the Umbrian Region.

Four travel ideas and suggestions to do and experience in Umbria in May between alpacas, bikes, wine tastings and cultural experiences

1. Experience with Alpacas
Did you know that:
Alpacas make various types of sounds to communicate including a “buzz” called “Hamming”;
They also have body language such as neck posture, ear and tail position, and head tilt;
They have excellent hearing and excellent eyesight;
In case of danger, they warn the pack by emitting an intermittent sound similar to squeezing a rubber dog puppet.
Sources (Albus Alpacas)
Do you want to live your experience with alpacas?
To learn more, please click here.

2. May 18 International Museum Day
On the occasion of this day which has been celebrated since 1977, full of cultural ideas in which the Museums become stories of man and the world, take advantage of it and live your cultural experience in Umbria with our packages including the ORVIETO CARTA UNICA or the SPOLETO CARD for the museums. .
To learn more, please click here

3.Wine tasting
In the month of Cantine Aperte, in collaboration with the Movimento del Turismo del Vino Umbria we have collected some of the best wineries in our area where we organize visits, wine tastings accompanied by the best food and wine products of Umbria.
To learn more, please click here.

4.Your Be Active on Bike holiday
With the arrival of summer, the time has finally come to get on the bike and admire the fantastic views that Umbria offers, with the desire to discover the Umbrian territory on two wheels, through routes, landscapes, experiences of taste and history that flatly express the fulcrum, the heart of Umbria: its being a region suitable for itineraries between nature, culture and food and wine.
To learn more, please click here

The city of Gualdo Tadino, originally known by the Umbrian name of Tarsina, fell under Roman rule and was given the name “Tadinum”, becoming an important trading center and point of reference along the Via Flaminia. During the Roman period it experienced many wars following the conflicts for power between Caesar and Pompey.
Other known devastations are those related to the figure of Hannibal and the resistance against the Goths fighting against the Lombards in the famous battle of Tagina.
The name GUALDO derives from the reconstruction dating back to 996 after the destruction of Otto III of Saxony, Emperor of the Eastern Franks and Roman Emperor since 966; starting from the reconstruction of the 11th century, the city assumed the Longobard name of Gualdo, “forest, wooded place” – from the German “Wald”. The formal recognition of the name “Gualdo Tadino” will only take place in 1833 by Pope Gregory XVI.
In 1237 it was destroyed again by fire and rebuilt by Frederick II and the Benedictine friars, mainly around the large structure of the Rocca Flea, on Colle Sant’Angelo.
In order to be able to experience Gualdo Tadino immersed in time, in the marvelous stories of the Gualdo citizens, in the architectural constructions and in the culture that has distinguished the Umbrian town, the City of Gualdo Tadino Museum Pole has enclosed the entire legacy of the city in a circuit of museums .
Not to be missed are the Rocca Flea Civic Museum, the Ceramics Museum, the Emigration Museum…Discover them all HERE

But let’s look at some of them in detail:

Rocca Flea
On the top of Colle Sant’Angelo, stands Rocca Flea, an exquisite military architecture dating back to the XII century and rebuilt by Frederick II in 1247. Inside, since 1999, there is the Rocca Flea Civic Museum.
“Its name, derived from the nearby river Flebeo, later called Feo, already appears in documents from the 12th century. With the succession of different dominations imposed on the city, the militias of Federico Barbarossa first settled there, then those of the pope and in 1208 those of the Guelph Perugia. Damaged by many conflicts, it was restored by Frederick II around 1242. In the 16th century it became the residence of the papal legates, while in 1888 the Rocca became a prison. Restored to its previous appearance thanks to recent restorations, the fortress has become the seat of the civic museum since 1999 “

Museum of Ceramics
“The Ceramics Museum of Casa Cajani is part of a large project which aims to exhibit and enhance the city’s heritage: the civic collection of ceramics, coming from the public, from acquisitions and donations. A project linked to the artistic, productive and economic history of this area, which documents the prestigious goals achieved over the centuries by the Gualdo ceramic manufacturers.
Some rooms of the Museum are entirely dedicated to Alfredo Santarelli, a tribute to his majestic work with artefacts from important factories born in the 1900s from the imprint of Santarelli, such as Luca della Robbia, the Mastro Giorgio Ceramic Society and the Angelo Pascucci Ceramic Industry. Another section is dedicated to the prestigious manufacture of Paolo Rubboli who reintroduced the technique of gold and ruby ​​lustres of the Mastrogiorge tradition in Gualdo Tadino”.

Emigration Museum
“The Pietro Conti Regional Museum of Emigration was created to underline the historical, cultural and human heritage linked to the great emigration exodus that involved Italy from the end of the 19th century and which involved more than 27 million departures. Made with the video projection technique, it involves the visitor in an exciting backward journey: the arrival, the journey and the departure. Documents, images and stories from all regions of Italy. A choral journey that has the emigrant as its protagonist: the farewells, the meeting and the clash with the foreign country, nostalgia, the daily joys and sorrows, the integration into the new reality, the defeats and the victories, the confrontation and reflection on today’s immigration”.

Four travel ideas and ideas to do and experience in Umbria in April between nature and culture, art exhibitions, the Perugino exhibition and outdoor activities on two wheels with the bike:

1. Easter and my Umbria
From 7 April to 10 April 2023
Get ready to savor, admire, photograph, love Umbria with a 4-day itinerary to immerse yourself in the natural, historical and food and wine beauties that we have designed for you.
Discover with UmbriaSì Assisi, Perugia, Bevagna, Montefalco and Lake Trasimeno.
To learn more, please click here.

2. Antiques Exhibition
From April 22nd to May 1st
Are you passionate about art, history, all that is vintage and smells of the culture of other times?
The National Antiques Exhibition is just the thing for you! With the exhibition at Umbria Fiere you will be able to discover real ancient, modern and contemporary art galleries.
Stay tuned to find out more!

3.Il Perugino “The Best Master of Italy”
From 4 March to 11 June 2023
There has been great excitement in recent months in Umbria for the preparations for the great exhibition dedicated to Perugino the Divine Painter.
Visit the exhibition for the 500th anniversary of the death of Pietro Vannucci at the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria in Perugia with the name “the best master of Italy” as it was defined in 1500 by Agostino Chigi, a great art connoisseur and patron of his time .
To learn more, please click here.

4. Trebbiano Gravel
April 30, 2023
With the arrival of spring, outdoor activities and the desire to discover the territory of Umbria on two wheels reawaken, through routes, landscapes, tasteful and historical experiences that plainly express the fulcrum, the heart of Umbria: its being a region suitable for itineraries between nature, culture and food and wine. A sport that encompasses all these emotions and sensations is precisely the Bike with the Trebbiano Gravel Event.
To learn more, please click here

In the flourishing valley of Umbria stands the city of Bevagna, originally populated by Umbrians with Etruscan influences. The original name, Mevania, is perhaps due to an Etruscan noble named Mefana, which became Mevania with the arrival of the Romans.
The bond that unites Sagrantino and Bevagna with deep-rooted origins is important and strong:
in fact, we read in the Historia Naturalis of Pliny the Elder, of a black grape variety produced in the municipality of Bevagna.
Enclosed in its walls, Bevagna experienced a flourishing building development with the construction of an amphitheater and Roman baths adorned with beautiful mosaics. The amphitheater itself, in medieval times, was then transformed and became part of a craftsman’s workshop on the ground floor with his residence on the upper floor: hence the famous saying “house and workshop”.
Among the Umbrian historical events and re-enactments, the one linked to the Mercato delle Gaite is singular and very fascinating, which for over 30 years has been proposing what medieval everyday life was like between 1250 and 1350: how people lived, what they did in the alleys of drink.
The event takes its name from the four main districts of Bevagna, the Gaite, and every year, at the end of June, it brings back to life the ancient uses and customs of the drinkers engaged in four competitions, Gastronomic, Trades, Market and Archery. Music, food, instruments, clothes…everything recalls the Bevagna of that century, a historical leap in time that fascinates and amazes.
Another experience is the Circuit of Medieval Crafts: real laboratories to be able to experience the arts and crafts of that time, among ancient machinery, engineering instruments, which have made the history of commerce and artisan production of Bevagna: the Setificio , the painter’s workshop, the Mastro Cecco paper mill and the wax factory.

Stroll along the streets, among taverns, clubs, wine bars and more modern wine bars where you can sip a glass of Montefalco Sagrantino or even in its sparkling version to have vivacity and freshness on spring days when the sun is still shy but warms up just enough to make you enjoy a walk in the open air.

click here

We are approaching Easter and on the Umbrian tables, laden with delicacies and decorated by the scents of spring with its colors and the sweet sound of the singing turtle doves, two traditional dishes of the Umbrian culture and food and wine cannot be missing: the sweet Ciaramicola to be enjoyed for breakfast or at the end of the meal paired with an Umbrian Vin Santo from Grechetto and Trebbiano, and Torta al Formaggio that accompanies rich and tasty cold cuts and appetizers.

The Ciaramicola and its origins
A donut known in the Perugian villages as early as the 15th century, it is a leavened cake covered with candid meringue and enriched and adorned with colored sugared almonds. Its internal dough has a red/pink color given by the liqueur used for this dessert: Alchermes, based on cochineal, rose water, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and coriander. An Italian liqueur much loved by the Medici family.

The name Ciaramicola, etymologically, derives from various nuances
of meaning:
• Da Ciaramella: for the circularity of its shape;
• From Ciarapica: the dialectal name of the Cinciallegra, the spring bird;
• Da Ciara: in reference to the meringue made from egg whites or egg whites.

Tradition also wants the Ciaramicola to be a dessert that girls gave to their future husbands at Easter as a good omen.

Another important tradition of the Umbrian territory is linked to the feast of Sant’Ubaldo, patron saint of Gubbio. In fact, a text from 1431 states that the Ciaramigola was made to be prepared and offered to the people of Gubbio on the occasion of the feast of the saint on 15 May.

Finally, it often happens to find the Ciaramicola with 5 “tufts” of meringue, representing the five Perugini districts: Porta Santa Susanna represented by the blue color of the sugared almonds (due to the orientation towards Lake Trasimeno della Porta), Porta Eburnea by the green (the vegetable gardens), Porta Sant’Angelo with its red color (the sword of the Angel), Porta San Pietro with its yellow color (like wheat), Porta Sole as white as meringue and like the light of the sun (in fact the sun is the symbol of this Gate).

The recipe of Ciaramicola
Ingredients for the donut:
• 550g of 00 flour
• 250 g of sugar
• 150gr of lard (butter alternative)
• 4 eggs
• 1 sachet of baking powder
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 200ml of Alkermes
Ingredients for the meringue:
• 100 g of egg whites
• 200 g of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar
For decoration:
• Colored sugar sprinkles

Method:
Let’s start by whisking the egg and sugar until obtaining a homogeneous foam to which we will add the sifted flour and yeast, the lard at room temperature, the grated lemon zest and finally the Alchermes. After mixing all the ingredients, pour it into a buttered pan. In the oven for about 45 minutes at 160°C.
For the meringue, whip the egg whites at high speed with the cream of tartar and gradually the sugar. It should be firm, soft and shiny.
Once the donut is cold, we cover it with meringue and finally with the colored sprinkles. Back in the oven for 25 minutes to cook the meringue at 90°C.

Torta al Formaggio
A leavened product rich in cheese and flavors typical of the Easter holidays in Umbria but which can be eaten and consumed all year round due to its goodness, simplicity and ease of combination with cured meats, especially capocollo and pork butchery.
Not infrequently, the cheese cake is eaten for breakfast on Easter morning, which is why it is also known by the name of Easter cake.
In De Agri Coltura, Catone writes about a cheese cake that is especially famous in Tuoro sul Trasimeno.

Torta al Formaggio recipe

Ingredients:
• 500g of 00 flour
• 100gr of grated parmesan
• 75g of grated pecorino
• 10gr of brewer’s yeast
• 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil
• 150m of milk
• 100g of Emmentaler cheese
• 4 eggs
• 10g of salt
• Pepper as needed

Method
Let’s start by dissolving the yeast in the warmed milk. In a bowl, mix flour, pecorino and Parmesan, eggs, milk with yeast and finally the oil slowly and begin to knead well until all the ingredients are mixed well and a homogeneous and smooth dough is obtained. Add the salt, pepper and the finely chopped or grated Emmentaler cheese. Place the dough in a buttered mold and let it rise for 2 hours then bake it at 180°C for about an hour.

Copyright foto Torta al Formaggio by Spicchio d’Aglio

To feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland, a bit like the Hatter, we take you to Gubbio, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Umbria, also known by the Roman name of Iguvium, rich in history, monuments, architectural works and … also famous for being known as the City of Fools!
Well as such, in the Gubbio city you can also take the Fool’s License complete with Parchment. Everything starts and revolves around the Bargello Fountain, built around the 16th century, located in front of Palazzo Bargello in the heart of the historic center of Gubbio and renowned for being the Fools’ Fountain! 

It all dates back to an ancient practice of 1880 and still in use today for the citizens of Gubbio but also for all the tourists traveling to Gubbio!
Attention! The Madmen’s license also requires requirements and is based on strict regulations:
1. It must be a genuine Eugubino to apply for the Madman’s License on your behalf
2. Pay a contribution to the Maggio Eugubino Association
3. Make 3 laps around the Fontana dei Matti in the presence of a genuine Eugubino Matto!
4. Being “baptized” by the spray of water from the Fontana dei Matti itself.

After passing the test, the same Association will grant you the Parchment of the Fool’s License written in medieval style.
The tradition of the Matti is linked to the laps, the “birate”, which take place around the main flagpole of Piazza Grande during the famous and folkloristic Ceri festival which is held every year on May 15th.

EUGUBINI, ROCKY CRAZY!
According to some geological studies, around the city they would have detected rocky conformations contaminated by a highly toxic chemical substance, iridium, which could in some way explain the “madness” of the Gubbio inhabitants.

It was the year 1527 when the Florentine architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger was commissioned to build a Well in the heart of the city of Orvieto, a work that would later prove to be a real pioneering and avant-garde enterprise.
The task was ordered by the then Pope Clement VII, during the Sack of Rome, who wanted to give the city that gave him refuge (after having arrived there disguised as a greengrocer), a supply of water that was always available, especially during difficult periods such as sieges (or famines). A medal was also minted later, now kept in the Vatican Museums, with the engraving “ut populus bibat” – “for the people to drink”.

Initially the Pope had imagined the Pozzo for use in the fortified fortress of the Albornoz Fortress (hence the name “Pozzo della Rocca”). We have to wait for the 1800s for the current name Pozzo di San Patrizio.

Renaissance avant-garde
The architect Sangallo designed the cylindrical well, 58 meters deep, starting and taking inspiration from the spiral staircase of the Villa del Belvedere in the Vatican with a helicoidal design of steps (248) designed so that no traffic jams were created. and in fact whoever went down and whoever went up had their own “way” free, especially those who went there with mules.
There are 72 windows that illuminate the well until it reaches the semi-darkness in depth, where there is a small bridge connecting the two stairways.
The Well, completed in 1537, was built by digging into the tuff (Orvieto is famous precisely for its tufaceous soils and tuff tunnels where many famous Orvieto wines are kept and refined today) and then into the clay up to the aquifer of natural origin.
At the entrance you read “quod natura munimento inviderat industry adiecit – what nature had not given, industry procured”, a clear celebration of human ingenuity at the service of nature.

The Well and Ireland
As mentioned, the name Pozzo di San Patrizio, arrived in the 1800s at the behest of the friars of the Convento dei Servi who were aware of the legend of the “Irish saint”, St. Patrick, guardian of a cave so deep that it did not have a bottom enough to be recognized as St. Patrick’s Purgatory (and once it reached the bottom by overcoming the “tests” it was then possible to enter Paradise) and that the well was even connected to Ireland, where the Saint did the work of evangelization, and often found in the Well a time for reflection and prayer. Thus it was that the Pozzo became a sacred rather than a military destination. Today a tourist and cultural destination of great impact and emotion.