The construction of the building dates back to 1854, on land purchased by the Municipality from the Royal Conservatory of Santa Maria Maddalena in Siena. The decision to build the new seat of justice in a dominant and central position along the newly created Via Mameli—then known as “Vie Nuove”—responded both to functional needs and a precise symbolic intent: to place the authority of the law in a “superior” position compared to civil life, represented by the nearby town hall.

The structure, designed to accommodate all functions of the judicial system, was divided into four levels:

• Ground floor: Office of the District Court and courtroom;

• First floor: Two apartments, intended respectively for the Magistrate and the Prison Warden;

• Second floor: The actual detention area, with ten cells (eight for custody and two for punishment), accessible through a massive iron gate;

• Third floor (attic): A large room with arched windows, called the “loggione,” where prisoners could get fresh air in a controlled space.

The choice to build the building in a new part of town was also an opportunity for urban expansion, leading to the creation of a road parallel to the main street and contributing to the transformation of the historic center.

Asciano was chosen to host the District Court because of its historical, social, and economic importance and its centuries-old role as a judicial seat. The local court operated for over a century until the suppression of the District Court in 1963, when judicial functions were centralized in Siena.

Today, this building tells a significant chapter of Asciano’s institutional and architectural history, inviting reflection on the role that justice has had—and continues to have—in the life of communities.