Pienza is rarely one of the most common tourist destinations for those visiting Tuscany. Facing Florence, Pisa or Siena, who would get lost in the countryside of the Val d’Orcia to go and discover a provincial town? Yet there will be a reason if the entire municipality became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996! We are in the province of Siena, in a landscape made up of soft hills, cypresses, streams and tree-lined streets… and medieval villages that emerge here and there.

Discovering Pienza

Until the fifteenth century Pienza was a village called Corsignano.

But Pope Pio II was born in that village who, traveling north in 1462 and seeing how his native place was reduced to poverty, decided to re-evaluate it.

In a few years the degraded village became an orderly and elegant town, the “city of Pio”, Pienza, in fact.

But what did Pio II do that was so extraordinary, who among other things died before seeing the work completed? Just go to Pienza today to understand it.

What to see in Pienza

The papal architect who was entrusted with the revaluation project of the place was inspired by that “ideal city” so often painted and never built.

And in fact the historic center of Pienza recalls a little that Renaissance order of lines, colors and styles.

The main square is surrounded by the cathedral, town hall, Palazzo Borgia, Palazzo Piccolomini.

The Renaissance beauty of the white Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is completed by the interiors, simple in the decorations but beautiful with light Gothic lines.

The town hall, on the other hand, is more austere, although the arches and the tower always recall the Gothic memory of the nearby cathedral.

Palazzo Piccolomini, owned by the Pope’s family, has a mighty ashlar that hides, inside, lighter arcades and a beautiful Renaissance garden.

Much simpler and more austere is the small Palazzo Borgia, a gift from Pio II to his Spanish cardinal friend, the future Pope Alexander Borgia. It is currently the seat of the bishop and the Diocesan Museum.

Country churches and castles in Pienza

Pienza is famous for its country churches, the so-called “parish churches”.

Many are medieval, others date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Among the most beautiful to see:

• Saints Leonardo and Cristoforo,

• Santa Maria dello Spino (in the locality of Monticchiello),

• Saints Vito and Modesto in Corsignano.

To admire the large monastic complex of the sixteenth century, Sant’Anna in Camprena, you need to book a room. Because today it has become a charming farmhouse and still dominates the valley as in the past.

The hermitage, one of the oldest hermitage convents in Tuscany, is very beautiful. Dug into the rock, it dates back to the early fourteenth century and includes several rooms overlooking the panorama of Val d’Orcia.

But an itinerary around Pienza will also include a visit to its castles.

The beautiful Spedaletto castle (12th century remodeled in 1446), the suggestive Castelluccio dei Bifolchi (13th century) and the much more modern castle of Cosona with a facade restored at the beginning of the 20th century.

Pienza, how to get there

Pienza is reached via the A1 motorway with the Chiusi-Chianciano Terme exit and continuing to Chianciano for another 30 km.

Or, coming down from Florence you pass by the Valdichiana continuing for 20 km. From Siena you will take the Statale 2.

Those arriving by train will get off at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme station and from there will continue with the regional bus lines.

The reference airports are Florence and Pisa.

We are waiting for you at Villa Campestri to visit the beautiful Pienza

If you can’t wait to visit the town of Pienza and its attractions, we recommend that you treat yourself to a relaxing stay in the Tuscan countryside and reach Pienza within a day, it is about two hours from Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort!