“Suavis locus ille”, the pleasantness of the place, or “Sub illice”, - under the oaks, are the most probable origins of “Sovicille”, the name given to the ancient village facing the Montagnola Senese. The village dates back to the 7th century AC, when Siena was a chamberlainship due to its strategic position. The town of Siena seems to have been dominated by the Longobards in that period; this is testified by the presence of numerous castles in the most strategic areas around Siena, not least in Sovicille.

Castles represented at that time the centre of military, family, economic, and social life. They were also used to stock all the harvest (or part of it) that the losers had to pay as a tribute (“terzia”) to the winners. “La Sala”, the name given to the village of Sovicille at the beginning of the 11th century further testifies the presence of Longobards in that area. Various different cultures, -Etruscans, Romans, Germanics – succeded in the village up till the year one thousand (1004). From that date on, till mid 12th century, the castle appears as property of the Serena Abbey.

Sovicille and its castle are mentioned in a note written by Pope Alessandro III to Ugo, Bishop of Volterra on April 23, 1179. In that note “Sufficillum” is described as the external board of the Volterra diocese. The note written by Clemente III on April 20, 1189, listing castles, churches, and villages to be passed to Bono, Bishop of Siena, contains the Sovicille Castle (“Castellum de Sovicille”).

The first documents regarding the city-state organization of Siena Republic are dated 1237-38. A document dated December 30, 1237 reports that citizens gathered “under bells ring” to set up the constitution of their village, together with Mr Guido Palmieri. During the 14th century, the castle was devastated several times as a consequence of wars. In 1313 it was devastated by the troops of Arrigo VII of Luxembourg, who marched on Siena, while in 1333 it was ruined by Pisan troops during the conflict between Siena and Pisa.

The castle was then restructured in 1365 and in 1479. The prosperous city-state of Sovicille and its territory finally declined at the end of the 14th century, as a result of conflicts and incursions. The eigteenth-century palace as you can see it today was built on the ruins of the ancient Sovicille castle, and it incorporates part of the old castle walls.

The T-shaped palace is made up of a central body built on the ancient walls, showing a curvilinear structure, and an extended body that stretches out to the main square of the village. The part below the main building is characterized by a unique combination of particularly elegant, indented stairs that lead to the park.

The main access to the square consists of a typically classical loggia with arches and pilaster strips, dating back to the second half of the 16th century.