Should I pour a concrete patio and build a fire pit on top or leave the area that I intend to have the pit bare ground without cement?
I guess my question is will the concrete patio withstand the heat generated by the fire built directly on the concrete patio?
No, a nice wood fire will kill the concrete, leave it open. Water can drain also. You can build the fire pit on top of the concrete though.
Not really. The fire pit will be 12”or16” tall? That should keep the majority of hot embers inside. I haven’t heard or seen any evidence of the slab being damaged by a hot ash landing on it.