The citizens of Asciano are known as “garbati ascianesi”, courteous people from Asciano, perhaps for the help given by the local army to the Sienese during the battle of Montaperti in 1260, or perhaps for the name of the wool imported here in the 14th century from Algrave in Portugal. In this town we will see the Collegiate church of Saint Agatha with its crenellated bell tower, the Palace of the Podesta decorated with coats of arms of the Sienese Vicars, the churches of Saint Francis and Saint Augustin (exterior), and the Wheat square with its beautiful central travertine fountain by Paolo Ghini.
Not far away in a pharmacy backshop we can see a restored Roman mosaic, discovered in 1899 after being hidden under a garden for centuries. It was in an ancient Roman villa probably built by Gneo Domizio Afro as a private property of the Emperor Marco Aurelio.
A walk in the Matteotti street will allow you to taste some of the local specialities such as the Giardi Panpepato (spicy bread), still produced in an artisan way, and the Spicy Wine, a liquor brought back to life after 200 years thanks to the fortuitous discovery of the original 18th century recipe some years ago.
Half day tour - maximum 3 hours. Check Rates
Entrance fees to museums are not included. Check Useful information
If you have time, it is possible to add to the tour a visit to :
- Cassioli Museum, founded thanks to a considerable bequest of paintings by Amos and his son Giuseppe Cassioli. This unique museum in the province of Siena is entirely dedicated to 19th century Sienese painting,
- Corboli Palace, a 13th century residence, housing the Civic Archaeological and Sacred Art Museum which gathers important examples of Sienese painting and ceramics. Among the works of art the wooden cross by Giovanni Pisano, the Virgin with Child by Segna di Bonaventura, the extraordinary triptych of Rofena by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, the delicate wooden Annunciation by Francesco di Valdambrino, the wonderful Nativity of the Virgin by the Master of Observance and other paintings of later centuries among which the Crucifixion by Bernardino Mei, the most renowned Sienese Baroque painter.
These are simply suggestions for itineraries, but we will be glad to create a tailor made itinerary for you, according to your preferences and time you have at your disposal.
BOOK NOW FOR FREE TASTINGS IN ASCIANO
The Asciano Natural Shopping Centre organises free tastings for visitors having a guided tour in town. When booking a guided tour in Asciano it will be possible to taste typical products of this territory (pork cold meat, sweets, olive oil, panpepato etc), Ask to the Centro Guide for more information.
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Siena Unesco City Site With its magnificent Campo square and its imposing Cathedral, Siena opens its heart to you Guided tours Hiking |
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Palio and Contrads The roll of drums and flag-waiving follow the Sienese people throughout all their life. The contradas are ancient medieval districts but still the backbone of this city |
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San Gimignano and the Vernaccia Wine |
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Colle Val d’Elsa and Crystal From Arnolfo di Cambio to Jean Nouvel, this city will impress you with its energy and capacity to renovate itself. Colle owes its richness to the Elsa river, which first allowed for the development of its wool industry, followed by paper manufacturing, and today the production of crystal
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Certaldo and Boccaccio Friar Onion wanted to impress his followers with the feather of the Archangel Gabriel, but he found only lumps of coal and smartly he passed them off as relics of the martyrdom of Saint Laurence
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Vinci and the Museum of Leonardo To understand the genius of Leonardo you must visualize his creations, and thanks to the museum dedicated to Leonardo in the ancient castle of Counts Guidi this will be possible |
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Volterra From lucomony to prison to mental hospital, this has always been a town known for its alabaster. Today, it is known as the town of vampires thanks to New Moon of the famous Saga Twilight |
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Chianti Shine and Wine You will not only find Chianti DOC and DOCG wines, but also castles and little boroughs hidden among the vineyards of Sangiovese, Malvasia, Trebbiano e Colorino |
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Montagnola and Mount Maggio Marble quarries and heroic episodes of partisan resistance make those places, still unknown to tourists, extremely fascinating Guided tours |
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Saint Galgano and the Sword in the Rock A town of only ruins now, but long time ago it was a very healthy abbey just a few steps from the place where Saint Galgano converted himself and his sword became a cross |
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Buonconvento A hospice for pilgrims and a place of death for Henry the VII, Buonconcvento has been declared one of The Most Beautiful Boroughs in Italy |
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Monte Oliveto Mother House Known as a place of spiritual retirement for Saint Bernanrdo Tolomei, and a place of high artistic value thanks to the frescoes of Luca Signorelli and the eccentric Sodoma |
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Asciano and the Sienese Clay Hills The landscape of the Ambrogio Lorenzetti is famous for the fresco of the Good Government is still evident when you cross this part of Tuscany, scattered with gullies and biancanas |
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Pienza and Pope Pio II Dream of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, its own jewel among the olive trees, Pienza will surprise you with its Renaissance shapes and its Medieval charm |
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Saint Quirico and the Orcia Valley Saint Quiric is documented as stop XII by the Bishop of Canterbury, during his journey back from Rome in the year 990 |
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Bagno Vignoni Saint Catherine tested her faith here and Michel de Montaigne described it as miserliness |
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Montalcino and Brunello Wine A region known for not only its wine, but for tourism as well. In the Fortress is where the Sieneses sheltered to escape the Florentine lordship |
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Saint Antimo Abbey A mystic place where the Gregorian chants resound and where you will be overcome by a disarming peace |
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Montepulciano and Nobile Wine In his Bacchus in Tuscany, Francesco Redi wrote “Montepulciano is the king of every wine”, he referred to the taste or to the fact that noble people were involved in the production; we let you believe what you prefer |
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Chiusi e gli Etruschi And now we should tell about the Italian [labyrinth] that Porsenna, king of Etruria made for himself as a tomb, and at the same time to exceed the vanity of foreign kings. But as gorgeousness is over the imagination …., Plyni the Elder Naturalis Historiae |
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Chianciano and the Spa Our grandfathers would have referred to it with an Italian rhyme Chianciano fegato sano (healthy liver) but this thermal city has come a long way, and it is now a posh spa spot |
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Cetona The pretty little alleys going around the hill top take us away from a very far past which is from the Stone Age |
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Amiata Mountain and Abbadia San Salvatore From the sacred wood for the Etruscans to the powerful Benedictine abbey of Saint Salvatore during the time of Charlemagne, from the little medieval hermitages where Saint Bernardino served his novitiate, to the Jurisdavidic devotees of David Lazzaretti in the XIX c., Amiata is for everybody the Sacred Mountain |
