Parish Church of Sant’Ippolito

This is the oldest church in the village of Asciano, as it is mentioned in a precious and rare document from the Longobard era, dated 714 AD, although some clues suggest that this place was frequented since Roman times. It later fell into disuse, and the main church became the Basilica of Sant'Agata, located within the village walls. The ancient baptismal font, made of stone and decorated with a precious bas-relief along the walls, was moved inside, where it is still used today. Today, the Pieve di Sant'Ippolito is privately owned, and thanks to the owner's desire to restore the building, it was discovered that the plaster concealed a rare secret: a precious fresco! Placed above the altar, the work depicts an enthroned Madonna and Child with several saints on either side. Recent studies seem to attribute, in the guise of Saint Hippolytus, the self-portrait of a young Raphael who, with his master Pinturicchio, was in the area to fresco churches and chapels for the famous Half Millennium Jubilee!