Oratory of the Holy Cross
Located in the historic center of Asciano, the Oratory of the Holy Cross (Oratorio di Santa Croce) is a place of worship documented as early as the late 16th century (1579) and served as the seat of the lay confraternity of the same name. The structure, also recorded in the 17th century by ecclesiastical sources and local scholars, is a small gem of art and devotion.
Once home to the Museum of Sacred Art, the oratory still preserves notable paintings and welcomes pilgrims traveling along the Via Lauretana.
Architecture
The main façade, simple yet harmonious, is articulated by brick pilasters and enhanced by a Renaissance-style portal. The interior preserves Baroque decorations and important 17th-century artistic works.
Artworks
The oratory is adorned with numerous works of art, including:
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Main altar: houses a painting by Bernardino Mei depicting Christ taken down from the Cross
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Side paintings: Dead Jesus at the feet of the Madonna and The Risen Jesus, attributed to Deifebo Burbarini
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Statue of the Dead Christ (made of plaster): a devotional work donated in 1869 by the sculptor Luigi Magi, still carried in procession on Good Friday
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Wooden choir and frescoed lunettes (1660) by Francesco Nasini, featuring scenes from the Passion
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In the sacristy, there is a copy of the statue of Saint Agatha made by Giovanni Magi
Among the works once kept here, a notable 15th-century panel depicting Saint Sebastian by Pietro da Ruffolo stands out; it is now exhibited at the Palazzo Corboli Museum.
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The Madonna Lauretana of Canapaia
This particular Marian devotion is linked to a small rural chapel located near Torre a Castello, in the locality of Canapaia, just on the edge of the Asciano territory.
The Chapel of Loreto
Known as the “Canapaia Chapel” or “Chapel of Loreto,” it was built in 1677, as indicated on the altar. The building, with a rectangular plan, is entirely made of bricks and features a simple gable façade, with a portal topped by a round arch. Above, a polychrome terracotta depicting the Madonna and Child is set into the wall.
The Statue and the Tradition
Inside, a niche above the altar once housed a wooden statue of the Madonna of Loreto, inspired by the famous Lauretana image. This copy, commissioned by the Chigi-Saracini family, replaced an original Robbian terracotta statue that had been stolen from a rural tabernacle.
According to popular tradition, the statue was taken to the church of Torre a Castello for safekeeping, but miraculously returned to its original field, leaving footprints as a sign of the miracle. To protect the image, the chapel was built. Even today, every five years, the statue is carried in procession from Canapaia to Torre a Castello, in one of the most heartfelt devotional events of the area.
A contemporary ceramic artwork
The modern ceramic artwork by Giulia Boscagli, inspired by the iconography of the Madonna of Loreto, is now on display at the Oratory of Santa Croce.
Commissioned by the Asciano community, the piece is a tribute to the Madonna Lauretana of Canapaia and renews a devotion deeply rooted in the local area.
To create the traditionally black face of the Virgin and Child—typical of Lauretana representations—the artist chose to use bucchero, an Etruscan ceramic technique characterized by dark, compact surfaces. This choice highlights the connection to the local ceramic tradition and emphasizes its continuity through a contemporary artistic language.
