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Inhabitants in 1991: 6.210
 The
municipal territory of Asciano extends for 215,51 square kilometres on
the hills of the high valley of the river Ombrone. Its origins were
that of Medieval feudal and was then Vicariate Seat; it was raised to
community in 1777.
The discovery of an Etruscan burial place in the area testifies
that it was inhabited from the most ancient times. From Roman times
however there is the remains of a large fragment of mosaic floor. The
first news of Medieval Asciano is from the VIII century regarding a dispute
between the Bishops of Siena and Arezzo
for the possession of certain churches among which the parish church of
Asciano; in the IX century the castle was feudal to the Cacciaconti
Counts, who from Assianum, the most important centre, took the name
of Scialenghi under whose Lordship it remained until the end of the XII
century when it passed under the dominion of Siena, who made it
Vicariate Seat.
 Its
economic and strategic importance made it the target for the hostilities
of the Fiorentini, who in 1234 devastated it; in the course of the
XIII century it entered under the Lordship of the Tolomei, Asciano returned
in the middle of the 1300 under the direct control of Siena until 1554
when together with Siena it became part of the Mediceo State. The
Benedettina Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore grew up on its territory,
founded in 1313 by Bernardo Tolomei, it was the religious centre,
but also one of culture and economy, of notable importance particularly
in the Renaissance period.
Places to visit:
Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, about 2 kilometres outside
the town is the church of the monastery founded in 1300 by Benedettini
Olivetani. Interesting is the Chorus inlaid by Fra’ Giovanni
da Verona. In the monastery’s library there are 40,000 precious
books preserved. The Chemists contains an important collection of
jars from the XVII century. Civic Tower, elegant crenelated
construction of Medieval establishment, partly remade successively.
Civic Archaeological Museum, where the finds from the excavations
of the burial ground of Poggio Pinci are collected.
S. Agata, Romanic Basilica in Travertine stone, founded in
the XI century. The single nave interior preserves precious works
of art.
S. Francesco, Gothic church of the XIII century being part
of the Francescano monastic complex now disappeared. The interior,
completely restored, preserves precious works of art among which an
Ancona by Robbiana from 1500. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of
Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e
Giuridici
Picture by Sandro Santioli
Translated by Ann Mountford
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Gallery: Siena area
