A well, a palace and a family

The history of the Etruscan well is inextricably linked to that of the successive proprietors of the Palazzo Sorbello who also owned the well which could be accessed from the palace baement. Palazzo Sorbello was originally built in the 16th century by Niccolò Montemelini on remnants of the Etruscan city wall, replacing a tower and three medieval dwellings.

The palace was acquired by Diomede degli Oddi in 1629 and later became the property of a noble family called Conti Eugeni di Perugia. In 1780 the palace was acquired from Conte Antonio Eugeni by Marchese Uguccione III Bourbon di Sorbello who made it his official residence thus bequeathing the Pozzo Etrusco to his family line. Although he actually owned the well, Uguccione III allowed residents of the piazza free access to its water thereby avoiding recourse to other public fountains in the city centre.