Art in the Crete Senesi

Inaugurated on May 18, 2002, the Corboli Museum is considered “one of the finest small museums in Italy” and is recognized as a “Museum of Regional Significance” by Tuscany. The building, dating back to the 1200s, has undergone many changes over the centuries. It spans three floors, preserving rare painting cycles of historical and artistic value. The exhibition path, which includes collections from the Museum of Sacred Art and the Etruscan Museum, is divided into three sections: art, archaeology, and ceramics.

Asciano was once accessible through five gates, of which only one remains today: Porta Senese, also known as "Porta dei Bianchi" due to its proximity to the holdings of this historic family. Reconstructed in modern times, the gate preserves at its top the ancient coats of arms that adorned it in medieval times. As in the past, it still welcomes travelers arriving from Siena along the Via Lauretana.

Constructed with local stone between the late 1200s and early 1300s, these walls defended the village of Asciano, an important mercantile and productive center at the time. Interspersed with towers, they still partially enclose the historic center, bearing witness to the vitality and strategic importance of Asciano along medieval trade routes. Today, these ancient fortifications recount a time when security and commerce were fundamental to community life.

Piazza del Grano, once known as "Mercatale," was the center of commercial activities in Asciano, frequented by merchants from afar who traveled along the Via Lauretana to trade their goods. The pristine fountain, created by sculptor Antonio Ghini in the 1470s, is rich in symbolism and allegories connected to the secular realm, serving as both a reminder and a reference for the mercantile activities in the square.

Once part of an ancient defensive tower along the town walls, Palazzo del Podestà tells a fascinating story through its facade, adorned with the crests of the podestàs who governed this land from the 15th century onward. Over the centuries, the building has evolved, adapting to the times. Originally a symbol of political power, it later became the “Ravvivati” Theater, a lively cultural venue that enriched the social life of Asciano until the last century.

Dating back to the 13th century, this church is an emblematic example of Franciscan architecture, reflecting the values of simplicity and humility cherished by St. Francis of Assisi. The adjacent convent, now divided into private residences, still shows traces on the facades surrounding the ancient cloister. The church preserves frescoes and various artworks, including a Madonna and Child by the Della Robbia family; other masterpieces are displayed at the Palazzo Corboli Museum.

First mentioned in documents from 1029 and 1040, this church took on the role of the ancient parish of St. Hippolytus. Its design follows a Latin cross plan, crowned by a hemispherical dome set within an octagonal lantern, rising gracefully at the intersection of the transept and nave. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, the nave was expanded in the Gothic style. In 1542, the church was elevated to a Collegiate Church, and in 1991, it attained the rank of Basilica, solidifying its importance in the local religious tradition.

The museum was established in 1991, initially featuring a collection of sketches and works from the atelier of artists Amos and Giuseppe Cassioli, donated by their heirs to the Asciano community. In 2007, the museum was renewed, with the exhibition expanded by works made available by the "Duccio di Buoninsegna" Art High School in Siena, formerly the Academy of Fine Arts, where Amos received his training. It is the only museum entirely dedicated to 19th-century Sienese painting.

The Church, built beginning in the 13th century, overlooks a stretch of the historic Via Lauretana, now Corso Matteotti. In the 15th century, the structure was expanded and given a new brick façade, likely financed by the wealthy Sienese merchant Iacopo Scotti. On the right side, one can admire what remains of the old Augustinian convent, currently used as private residences. Important artworks originating from the church are now displayed in the Palazzo Corboli Museum.

The Abbey, built primarily of brick, stands majestically in the heart of a dense forest, creating an atmosphere of great solemnity. Founded in 1319 by three noblemen from Siena—Bernardo Tolomei, Patrizio Patrizi, and Ambrogio Piccolomini—this structure embodies a profound desire for a simple and contemplative life. The three nobles decided to leave behind the luxury and wealth of their city lives and chose the "Podere di Acona" as their spiritual "desertum."