Well of San Pancras

Nowadays the well is no more visible, as in the first half of the 19th century, within a general rearrangement of the square that gives access to Castello district, its entrance was lowered under the street, together with all the facilities like a noria (water wheel) and some shelters for the animals that activated it. Furthermore, an underground brick vaulted gallery was dug to let the animals reach the noria.

The well is still accessible through the gallery, whose entrance is close to the former National Archaeological Museum. During its exploration, the visitor can see a room on the left side, surmounted by a vault and characterized by the presence of a central pillar. It must have housed the animals that used to move the water wheel, as testified by the presence of iron rings on the walls and a drinking trough, probably consisting of a reused Roman sarcophagus.

Walking through the gallery for about 30 metres, the visitor reaches the well, covered by a brick vault with two holes to let the noria lift the water. Nowadays, only a few traces of the water wheel are visible. The square-shaped well, whose sides are 6x6 metres long in the first part and 4x5 metres long in the last one, runs down for 77 metres to the aquifer, from where it stretches underground for other 11 metres.