The medieval town of Buonconvento is enclosed by a brick wall with hanging arches on top. Built in 1379 by orders of the Governors of Siena it was originally fitted with only two doors along the main street. The Porta Senese on the north side, towards Siena, which still has the original woodwork with fittings, and Porta Romana to the south, destroyed in 1944 by the retreating Germans.
The town has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, protected by the moat and battlements of the Guelph wall ring, the borough has changed considerably in the 19th century with the construction of buildings behind the walls, including the Theater of the Risorti. The oldest nucleus of town is crossed from north to south by Soccini street, named in memory of the family that counted many illustrious members among which were lawyers and two heretics. The latter founded doctrinal organizations of various heretical movements developed during the Sixteenth century, who took the name of Socinianism.
The City of Buonconvento houses three museums on its territory. All are very important and of considerable interest both for an audience of tourists and for an audience of enthusiasts and scholars. The Museum of Sharecropping of Siena, the Museum of Sacred Art of the Val d’Arbia and the Oratory of the Confraternity of Mercy are to be visited.
The church of Saint Peter and Paul is one of the most important monuments of Buonconvento. Historical news report that in 1313 in this church the Emperor Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, died. A small marble stone, placed on the left side of the facade carved with a cross and engraved with the date 1103, may tell us about the year of its founding. In the Eighteenth century the interiors of the Church were completely renovated in neo-Classical style, while the current facade of brick, with ornamental travertine, was completed in 1723; finally the present tower was rebuilt in the early 1800s. Inside there are some colorful art works by the Sienese school, including a panel depicting the Madonna and Child, painted by Matteo di Giovanni in the Fifteenth century, a panel painted by Pietro di Francesco Orioli from the Fifteenth century, and a fresco by Sano di Pietro from the Fifteenth century depicting the coronation of the Virgin.
Getting to Buonconvento:
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