Podestà Palace

In Piazza del Grano, opposite the fifteenth-century fountain, the Palazzo del Podestà stands majestically. Built from one of the ancient towers that still form part of the fortified walls of the village, its facade is imposing and austere, a true history book told through the coats of arms adorning its stones. These emblems recount the history of the podestà, who governed these lands from the 15th century to the 17th century, each leaving their indelible mark.

As you walk beneath the palace’s facade, it’s impossible not to be transported back in time, when these walls witnessed crucial decisions and lives intertwined with the fate of the community. Each coat of arms seems to evoke a bygone era, recalling the faces and stories of the rulers who, over the centuries, took the helm of power in this ancient Tuscan village.

Each coat of arms embedded in the facade of the Palazzo del Podestà tells a story, like a visual narrative that unfolds across the centuries, revealing the men who shaped the destiny of Asciano. Among them, Vieri di Nanni stands out, leaving an indelible mark in 1471 with the fountain that adorns the center of the square. Two years later, in 1473, Count Mariano de Cacciaconti adds his name to the chorus of distinguished figures, imprinting his legacy in the history of the community.

Over the centuries, the Palazzo del Podestà undergoes transformations, adapting to the changes of time. Once a symbol of political power, it evolves into the stage of the Teatro dei Ravvivati, a place of performances and entertainment that enlivened the life of Asciano until the last century.