The Castle Walls

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.

The ancient walls that once enclosed the village of Asciano are largely preserved, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. The still-majestic walls and surviving towers stand as silent witnesses to centuries of history, when they guarded the access routes and protected Asciano. Today, we observe an interesting layering in the wall’s construction, revealing the various phases in the life of the fortifications: from their beginnings in the late 1200s to early 1300s to the final defensive updates of the late medieval and Renaissance periods.

In the medieval era, the village was accessible through five gates: Porta Massini (formerly of St. Agatha), Porta delle Fonti (formerly of Copperia, also known as “Porticciola”), Porta a Copra (or the Comune Gate), Porta del Mulino della Pieve (also called “Porta alla Caduta” or “Waterfall Gate”), and Porta Senese. Today, only the last one remains. Until 1944, Porta Massini also stood, but it was destroyed during World War II by the retreating German army, leaving a profound gap in the community's memory.