Pienza

Pienza, the only site in the world to be doubly Unesco heritage, needs no introduction. This Pearl of the Renaissance takes its name from Pope Enea Silvio Piccolomini, or Pius II. Having finances and having the will to enoble his small native village, called Corsignano, Enea Silvio Piccolomini decided to create an "ideal city", a utopian place to exemplify the humanist principles and ambitions of the Italian Renaissance.

 

vista di Pienza: Ph: wikipedia - https://www.flickr.com/people/sherseydc/

 

The project was carried out by the architect Rossellino, led by Leon Battista Alberti and in just three years he saw the construction of magnificent buildings such as the Palazzo Piccolomini, papal residence, the Cathedral and the delightful central square, now dedicated to Pius II. The square has been used as the set of countless advertising and cinema spots and the small streets of Pienza make it particularly romantic as their names, Via del Bacio, Via dell'Amore, via della Fortuna and Via Buia.

 

The Duomo, or Cathedral of the Assumption, houses the masterpieces of numerous Renaissance artists, next to it Palazzo Piccolomini, with its loggia and garden that allow you to enjoy a beautiful view of the Val d'Orcia and chosen by Zeffirelli to shoot some scenes of his Romeo and Juliet. In front of Palazzo Piccolomini, another important building, Palazzo Borgia, donated by Pius II to Rodrigo Borgia, future Pope Hadrian VI, now home to the Bishop's Palace and the Diocesan Museum.

 

Everything in Pienza appears harmonious and proportional, as if you were in a Renaissance painting.

Located in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, it allows you to quickly visit all the main nearby villages which is why our base in Montepulciano is optimal.

When you are in the center of Pienza do not miss the opportunity to follow the signs towards the Pieve di Corsignano and also visit this suggestive Romanesque church, where Pius II and his nephew Pius III were baptized.

 

Another excellence that makes it universally famous is certainly its cheese, the Pienza pecorino, which in fact counts among the various producers the best in the world. This cheese is so famous that it has become the protagonist of the amusing Fair and the Palio del Cacio Fuso, where the players of the various districts of the city challenge each other by rolling a form of pecorino cheese around a spindle of wood, in the main square.

 

A cheese tasting is a must, combined with the wines of our areas, in fact we also organize picnics if required to live a total experience between history, landscapes and food and wine.

So what are you waiting for, choose between a vintage Fiat 500, a Vespa or an Alfa Spider as your ideal vehicle!