Buonconvento, the village among the Crete Senesi

Buonconvento, whose Latin name Bonus Conventus means “happy community,” is one of the most charming villages of the Crete Senesi, in the province of Siena. Located at 147 meters above sea level, the village stands in a strategic position between the Arbia and Ombrone rivers, near an important ford along the Via Francigena, where in the Middle Ages travelers would stop to rest. Immersed in fertile countryside, marked by the warm tones of terracotta and clay, Buonconvento has perfectly preserved its 15th-century walls, the Porta Senese, the 1379 defensive walls with Guelph battlements, and elegant medieval residences. Not to be missed are the Podestà Palace with its civic tower, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (dating back to 1103), and the Museum of Sacred Art of the Val d’Arbia, which houses masterpieces of the Sienese school. A serene atmosphere, art, nature, and history blend together for an experience that captures the authentic charm of Tuscany.

The treasures of the village

Buonconvento, an enchanting Tuscan village, is enclosed by 14th-century Sienese-style walls, once accessible only through Porta Senese and Porta Romana, the latter destroyed in 1944. Surrounded by moats and Guelph battlements, the village maintained its medieval structure until the 19th century, when buildings such as the Teatro dei Risorti were constructed.

The main street, Via Soccini, runs through the village from north to south and takes its name from a family known for its heretical ideas. Along this street stand historic buildings such as the Podestà Palace with 25 stone coats of arms, the Town Hall, Palazzo Taja with its wrought-iron balcony and sundial, and Palazzo Borghesi. Also important is Palazzo del Glorione, now home to the Museum of the Misericordia and the Oratory of San Sebastiano.

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, with its brick and stone façade from 1103, was the place where Emperor Henry VII died. Works of Sienese art are preserved in the Museum of Sacred Art, located in Palazzo Ricci-Socini, an example of Liberty style.

Events in the village

In Buonconvento, Carnival features parades of masks and allegorical floats from the town’s districts. Crea e Dimostra and street markets are held on Easter Monday and from May to October. The Good Friday Procession (1726) reenacts the Passion of Christ. Cose del Passato hosts an antique fair. Prima Luna d’Estate offers a long table with traditional dishes. The feasts of Saints Peter and Paul and the Trebbiatura sotto le mura celebrate local traditions. In August and September: the Festival of the Crete Senesi and the Sagra della Val d’Arbia. The Teatro dei Risorti, Crete d’Autunno, and È Natale a Buonconvento complete the cultural and gastronomic year.

photo credits  studioanghifoto