Etruscan well – a jewel of etruscan engineering in Perugia

History and Description

Also known as Pozzo Sorbello, as it lies beneath the palace of the same name, the Etruscan Well is one of the most extraordinary examples of Etruscan hydraulic engineering. Built in the second half of the 3rd century B.C., it was designed to meet the city’s water needs. The structure is excavated in a type of soil known as tassello mandorlato—a sedimentary deposit of rounded pebbles and clay typical of the area—and features a cylindrical shaft, wider at the top and narrower below, reaching a depth of about 35–37 meters. Fed by three perennial springs, it still serves as a water reserve today. Its cover is formed by two travertine trusses, each weighing around 8,000 kilograms (80 quintals), ingeniously balanced only by their own weight. Over the centuries, the well has undergone several interventions, including a closure in 1768 decorated with the coats of arms of the Bourbon di Sorbello and Eugeni families, and numerous restorations, the most recent completed in 2017.

Curiosities

The estimated capacity of the Etruscan Well is about 424,000 liters, making it the largest among all Etruscan and Roman wells and cisterns preserved in Perugia.

Access Information

The Etruscan Well is open daily, both in the morning and afternoon, with an admission fee of about €3, and offers free or discounted entry in specific cases.

How to Get Here

Located near Piazza Piccinino, the well can be easily reached on foot from the city center.

With its remarkable depth and ancient origins, the Etruscan Well of Perugia stands as a bridge between ancient and modern Perugia.

Photo credits: PozzoEtrusco (Wikipedia) – Licensed by CC 4.0