Piazza del Grano

As well as its many churches and historic buildings, the central square of Asciano is also well worth a visit. Piazza del Grano gets its name from the fact that rural Asciano was at one time the bread-basket of Siena. The fountain in the middle of the square is of particular interest. It was created by Antonio di Paolo Chini of Lucca in the fifteenth century.

 

The fountain was inspired by the shapes of the floor decorations in the cathedral in Lucca. The monument was commissioned by Vieri di Nanni and Pietro di Fabiano Calmieri, mayors of Asciano in 1471 and 1472. In fact, the two men’s coats of arms are carved on the base of the fountain. The first shows three swords and the second a wild boar.

 

The figures carved in the fountain were put there by the Sienese mayors to remind the citizens of Asciano of their loyalty to the powerful city of Siena, although the artist who created the fountain managed to overcome such purely political aims and create an admirable work of art.