Welcome to Casa sul Pozzo, a unique dwelling located in Via Napoli, in the characteristic village of Piano Vetrale, known for its fascinating murals painted on the walls.
Ancient Origins and Vital Functions
My name comes from an ancient cistern, 8 metres deep, on which I was built. Long ago, in my place there was a verdant countryside with a cistern and a well that provided abundant water to irrigate the vegetable gardens and water the animals. I was lucky enough to be built by the well-known writer and historian of Piano Vetrale, Professor Antonio Infante, who chose to build my walls around these precious water resources.
A Unique Feature
Even today, under my kitchen, you can admire the blue water and breathe in the freshness it emanates by lifting a trapdoor that was originally made of glass, allowing you to see the clear water under the floor. After the glass broke, it was replaced by a wooden panel, which can be lifted to access this large pool of water. Next to the kitchen, stone stairs lead to the first floor and flank the majestic well from which water can still be drawn.
A Place of Meetings and Stories
In the past, water from my wells was very useful not only to my landlords, but also to neighbours who came to fetch water with buckets, as the village did not yet have an aqueduct. The kitchen and the stairs to the well were almost daily meeting places, where people exchanged stories and comments as they pulled up water with a creaking pulley. I treasure the many stories I was able to hear over time.
The Inhabitants of Today
After Mr Infante, a gentleman from Battipaglia lived in my rooms. Currently, I am inhabited by Anna Sofia, her sister Rosalinda and their parents. The two girls are very proud of me and tell everyone about their well house. The well and the cistern are still active, fed by a spring, and my presence in the village is considered almost magical, especially by the children and young people who often come to visit me, seeing me as a fairy-tale place and inventing fantastic stories.
A Future of Memory and Tradition
I hope that in time my history will not be lost and that my walls will continue to be home to other families, custodians of an artistic, historical and traditional testimony.
Author of the drawing: Anna Sofia Errico, 10 years old.
Project coordinators: Domenica and Ornella Mastrogiovanni, Adele Missano.