Palazzo Corboli Museum

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.

Its origins date to the 13th century when two separate structures were built: a house-tower and another building, separated by an open space. Over time, these structures underwent numerous modifications and expansions, eventually forming the layout we see today. In the medieval period, it belonged to the noble Sienese Bandinelli family, whose crests recur in the building’s painted decorations. The name “Corboli” comes from a family from the Marche region who owned it in modern times.

The frescoes alone are worth a visit: the “Room of Aristotle” and the “Room of the Seasons,” attributed to Cristoforo di Bindoccio and Meo di Pero and dated to the late 14th century, are rare examples of secular painting cycles and are among the earliest references to Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Allegory of Good Government.

This section displays the most significant works from Asciano's main churches: S. Agata, S. Agostino, and S. Francesco. Renowned artists such as Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Francesco di Valdambrino, Sano di Pietro, Taddeo di Bartolo, Giovanni Pisano, Bernardino Mei, and many others are featured in this collection of works, which spans from the 13th to the 18th century and represents the extensive artistic landscape of the Asciano area.

This section gathers ancient artifacts from the Upper Ombrone Valley, with lavish grave goods from the Etruscan sites of the Molinello Tumulus and the Poggio Pinci Necropolis (Asciano), as well as the “princely” tomb from the Poggione Necropolis (Castelnuovo Berardenga), featuring a rare Etruscan chariot. Additional rooms are dedicated to the large thermal complex of Campo Muri (Rapolano Terme), dating to the Etruscan-Roman period.

This section honors Asciano’s official recognition as a “City of Recognized Ceramic Tradition” and showcases important artifacts that illustrate the area's longstanding ceramic production, which dates back at least to medieval times and continued into the late 1800s. From artifacts retrieved from refuse pits to the latest donations, this section presents remarkable ceramic pieces, from rare medieval majolica to a substantial collection attributed to the Filigelli and Francini families, well-known Asciano potters.