Wheat Square Fountain
A Welcoming Square with its 15th-Century Fountain: The Heart of the Medieval Settlement of Asciano!
Wheat square
In the historic center of Asciano, Piazza del Grano, once known as "Piazza di Mercatale," emerges as a stage rich in history, where ancient stones tell stories passed down through the centuries, and the memories of the past intertwine with contemporary life.
Merchants from all over, traveling along the Via Lauretana, would reach this place to exchange local and foreign goods, as well as the latest news. The square was the heart of commercial activity, where exchanges and negotiations took place, and the palaces of prominent merchant families overlooked it. Surrounding the square was the artisanal area, primarily dedicated to ceramic production, leatherworking, and metalworking. Just outside the walls were the industrious mills, powered by water to grind grain and forge iron with powerful hydraulic hammers.
The 15th-Century Fountain
This pristine fountain was crafted by the sculptor Antonio Ghini in the 1470s. Viewed from above, the basin reveals its elegant quatrefoil shape, a feature typical of Gothic and Renaissance art, composed of four semicircles arranged in a cross pattern, resembling a four-leaf clover. At the center, the majestic pitcher captures attention with four high-relief lion heads topped with winged figures, symbols of power and spirituality. The bas-reliefs decorating the pitcher feature vegetal motifs, providing a sense of balance and harmony.
Beneath it, a triangular element bears three coats of arms. Among them is the emblem of the Vieri di Nanni family, the Podestà of Asciano, with three spades, and we also find one of the earliest representations of Asciano’s civic coat of arms: a lion's paw holding an axe. The fountain itself was commissioned by the Republic of Siena, represented in 1471 by Andrea Capacci, the Camerlengo, with an emblem characterized by a wild boar’s head.
The pitcher and triangular element are supported by three sculptures depicting crabs, which rise just above the water level of the basin, perhaps symbolizing tenacity and protection.
Other symbols are carved into the basin: two crossed arms, possibly representing unity; two tongues bound by ornamented staffs with the word "maldire" (to slander), serving as a warning against gossip; a cornucopia, symbolizing abundance; and a snail, representing perseverance. One of the most intriguing details is the medallion with the head of a young woman, which some scholars believe to be Francesca Benassai, daughter of Bartolomeo Benassai, who was tasked by the Republic of Siena to oversee the construction of the fountain.
