Pozzo di Gammazita

Useful Information

Location:	Via S. Calogero, 25, 95121 Catania CT. (37.500350, 15.085747)
Open:	No restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Spring Stepwell
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Pozzo di Gammazita, Cortile Gammazita, Via S. Calogero, 25, 95121 Catania CT.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

12th century	Medieval spring built.
1621	a series of public fountains built at the behest of Don Francesco Lanario, Duke of Carpignano, general superintendent of the fortifications.
1669	during an eruption the source was buried under a layer of 14 meters of lava.

Description

Pozzo di Gammazita (Gammazita Spring) is a stepwell, a deep rectangular shaft with a long stone staircase leading down to the actual spring at the bottom. While Indian stepwells, the origin of the term, actually work like cisterns collecting rainwater during the rainy season, this is an actual karst spring. Ant it is located in the middle of the city Catania, the aquifer originates from the hills in the west, and flows underground through the coastal plain, covered by mostly impermeable layers of clay and marl. The aquifer flows to the sea and to submarine springs, but here it was tapped since the Middle Ages. This works quite well as long as the amount of water which is removed is not too big. If it is bigger than the water coming from the hills seawater flows backwards into the aquifer and the water may become brackish. In other words, this aquifer is not suitable for modern drinking water supply.

We have linked the Associazione Culturale Gammazita, a cultural non-profit association which was named after the spring and has a great page about it. The organization organizes cultural events in the quarter, like used books sales. The reason why this spring was used as namesake is simple: the spectacular step well is quite a sight! For nine centuries it has bewitched poets, painters and travellers on the Grand Tour. Numerous legends are told about the spring, and the namesake woman Gammazita, who was ready to die by throwing herself into the well rather than yield to the violence of the Angevin ruler.

A girl from Catania named Gammazita was beautiful and of great virtue. A French soldier fell in love with her, but his advances were despised by the young woman. She was already engaged to a boy named Giordano. On the day of her wedding, Gammazita was going to fetch water as always, the soldier attacked her violently. The girl, seeing herself precluded from any way out, preferred to throw herself into the nearby well rather than give in to dishonor. When Giordano heard what had happened, he stabbed the soldier to death. The death of the girl and her virtue were taken as an example of the patriotism and honesty of the women of Catania. The red stains on the walls of the well are traces of Gammazita's blood.

Obviously, the red stains are iron oxide which originates from small amounts of iron in the lava. The spring was almost covered by new buildings during the 19th century, so it is today located behind a building at the end of a small side street. The address is Via S. Calogero, 25, but it is located at the back side of this house and reached through Cortile Gammazita. It's possible to visit the well without restrictions. There is an educational sign with some explanations. If you want a guided tour, we recommend the Catania Sotteranea tour which visits numerous sites including this one.