It is “the ideal city”, designed in the 15th century at the behest of Pope Pius II. Pienza, a still perfectly intact example of Tuscan Renaissance architecture. A small jewel-city in the heart of the beautiful Val d’Orcia, just over an hour from The Mall Firenze. Here’s what to see.

PIENZA CATHEDRAL (DUOMO OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA)
Designed by architect Rossellino and consecrated in 1462, the Cathedral was built on the ruins of the Romanesque parish church of Santa Maria. The interior is inspired by the typical Northern churches that the Pope had seen and admired during his travels. With its trapezoidal shape and herringbone brick paving, the square it overlooks, named after Pius II, represents the perfect urban planning ideal of the Renaissance.

PALAZZO COMUNALE
Also in Piazza Pio II we find the Palazzo del Comune, with its large loggia with three arches decorated with Ionic capitals. Inside the Council Hall, is a fresco from the Sienese school from the 1400s depicting the Madonna with child and the patron saints of Pienza.

PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI
To the right of the Duomo, here is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in Pienza, of which you can visit the loggia, the rooms on the ground floor and the magnificent Renaissance roof garden.

PALAZZO BORGIA
Just a short distance from Piazza Pio II, we find the old Gothic palace donated by the Pope to Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (future Pope Alexander VI), his closest collaborator at the time.

SAINTS VITO AND MODESTO PARISH CHURCH IN CORSIGNANO
We are just outside the town centre, in the 12th century Romanesque parish church where Pius II and Pius III were baptised. From here a dirt road leads to the Elysian fields where the famous scene from the film Gladiator was filmed.

MADONNA DI VITALETA CHAPEL
Going the direction of San Quirico d’Orcia, you arrive at this little jewel nestled among the cypresses, which has become one of the most iconic symbols of the Val d’Orcia.

VILLAGES
A very short distance from Pienza there are two enchanting villages: the aforementioned and best known, San Quirico d’Orcia, and Monticchiello, both with a wealth of evocative views.

(ph. Janusz Maniak, Federico Di Dio, Kristof Van Rentergem)