Civic Tower and Mencia Fountain

One of the most iconic symbols of Asciano. The sixteenth-century civic tower, with its ancient clock that keeps time with unchanged precision, stands out among the rooftops of the village. At its base, a fountain adorned with a Gorgon head captures the attention of passersby. Its enigmatic gaze seems to hold a secret, inviting anyone who walks by to stop and drink. But there’s an unwritten pact: anyone who accepts the invitation and drinks from this fountain is destined to return to Asciano!

Strolling through the streets of Asciano, it’s impossible not to notice the majestic civic tower that rises elegantly in the center of the village along the main road. This tower, with its imposing presence, tells a story that dates back to 1537, as evidenced by the inscriptions carved into its ancient bricks.
As you approach, your gaze is drawn to the clock that still marks time today, which was once manually operated by a complex and fascinating mechanism—a true engineering marvel, now preserved in the Cassioli Museum.

At the base of the tower, another element captures the imagination: the fountain with the Gorgon mask, a stone sculpture adorned with bronze snakes, which once provided water to passersby. Although the original fountain is kept in the Palazzo Corboli Museum, the legend associated with it remains alive. It is said that anyone who drinks from this fountain will inevitably be destined to return to Asciano. It’s an irresistible allure, as if the soul of the village itself, through this fountain, maintains an unbreakable bond with those who stop by, inviting them to return, again and again, to discover and rediscover the wonders of this corner of Tuscany!