Museo Civico Archeologico e d'Arte Sacra di Palazzo Corboli

Palazzo Corboli in Asciano houses the Civic Archaeological and Sacred Art Museum. The collection brings together Etruscan finds from the surrounding countryside, Sienese paintings and ceramics, all within a medieval palace built by the Bandinelli family.

Why it matters

The museum connects the artistic and archaeological history of the Crete Senesi. Works from rural churches and objects from local Etruscan sites are preserved together in the town where they were found or used.

What to notice

The frescoed Sala di Aristotele and Sala delle Stagioni contain allegorical cycles attributed to Cristoforo di Bindoccio and Meo di Pero. The art collection includes Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Saint Michael from the Badia a Rofeno polyptych and paintings by the Maestro dell'Osservanza and other Sienese artists. Archaeological displays include objects from the Poggione tomb, among them a rare Etruscan chariot, alongside finds from Poggio Pinci, Molinello and Campo Muri.

Context and history

The Bandinelli family built the palazzo in the second decade of the thirteenth century. The building later passed to the Corboli family and served as an agricultural office before becoming a museum. Palazzo Corboli opened as Asciano's civic museum on 18 May 2002, with collections of sacred art, archaeology and ceramics.