Arriving to Asciano, through the charming via Lauretana, you come across bridge Garbo, after which you reach the margins of the historical centre.
We start the itinerary from via Cassioli. A few metres and you encounter piazza del Grano on the right, the medieval heart of the village. The square has as its centre a 15th century fountain, the work of Antonio di Paolo Ghini, and at the palace of the Podestà, adorned by various heraldic coats of arms.
We continue and we stop to contemplate a rare example of furnace for vases. Let’s go back up then along via Bartolenga, until we see the ancient Tolomei palace. A little further ahead the Collegiata di Sant'Agata rises. The basilica, which can be referred to the transition stage between Romanic and Gothic, it has a nice embattled belltower an unusual octagonal cupola. Inside it a great fresco depicting the Madonna ont he throne stand out, attributed to Girolamo del Pacchia, and Sodoma’s Deposto di croce.
When we have finished the visit to the cathedral, we take the steep ascent that leads to the church of San Francesco. The religious building, constructed between the 13th and 14th century, hosts some frescoes by Giovanni d'Asciano and a sublime terracotta altar-piece of the 15th century, made in the town’s furnaces.
We retrace our footsteps and we start along corso Matteotti: on the right we see the church of San Bernardino, a small building in gothic style, and immediately afterwards the Museo Cassioli, dedicated to the 19th century Asciano painter, Amos Cassioli.
Before returning to the main road, we cross via del Canto and we pause in front of the polychrome mosaic floor, what’s left of a large Domitian thermal spa. In corso Matteotti we come out in front of the Torre della Mencia, built in 1586, with at its feet a fountain that is beloved by the local people. We thus reach the church of Sant'Agostino, its façade still bearing the original gothic lines, whereas the inside has been through a baroque intervention.
We continue until the end of the road: here is the Sienese gate, from which it is possible to see a part of the Castle walls which date back to half the 14th century. At this point we come back out in via Cassioli, where our visit started. We are ready to leave this medieval village, where you cans till breath a simple and genuine atmosphere.
(Image from Banche di Credito cooperativo della Toscana)
Municipality of Asciano mailto: comunediasciano.bardelli@tin.it
APT Siena
