Pienza, Tuscany

Overview

Discover Pienza: Private Tours, Experiences & Custom Travel

The town of Pienza sits in the in between the towns of and . Such are the characteristics and qualities of these Italian places that in 1996 UNESCO declared the town a World Heritage Site, and in 2004, the entire valley landed on the list of UNESCO's World Cultural Landscapes.

The Val d'Orcia, through which flows the River Orcia, is the quintessential Tuscan landscape. Once dry and barren it has been transformed over the centuries into one of the most productive and beautiful regions in the world, dotted with small villages, parish churches, villas and castles, separated by a patchwork of vineyards, orchards, pastures and fields. Roads and fields are lined with imposing oak, beneficent umbrella pine, tall and priestly cyprus, and varieties of other trees, shrubs and bushes that flare into color almost throughout the year. Much of the valley is part of a large park system known as the Artistic Natural and Cultural Park of Val d'Orcia, consisting of five distinct areas (Pienza, Castiglione d'Orcia, Montalcino, Radicofani and San Quirico d'Orcia).

Pienza was built on a village called Corsignano that had been settled since known as Corsignano, which happened to be the birthplace (1405) of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini, a Renaissance Humanist born into an exiled Sienese family, who later became Pope Pius II. As Pope, he had the entire village rebuilt as an ideal Renaissance town - which has led historians to dub Pienza the "utopian" town. It represents the first application of so-called humanist urban planning concepts, creating an impetus for planning that was adopted in other Italian towns and cities and eventually spread to other European centers.

Winding Roads throught the Val D'Orcia towards Pienza, Italy

The rebuilding work was done by Florentine architect Bernardo Gambarelli (known as Rossellino) under the guidance of Leon Battista Alberti starting in about 1459 (the year that Columbus "discovered" American). Pope Pius II consecrated the Duomo, which sits across from the Piazza Comunale on Pienza's main piazza, the Piazza Pio, on August 29, 1462. The Palazzo Piccolomini, the Pope's family home, and the Palazzo Borgia also front the piazza. The travertine well on the Piazza carries the Piccolomini family crest.

Though most of the buildings are decidedly Renaissant, the bell tower of the Duomo has a Germanic flavor as a result of Pope Pius' exposure to German architecture before he ascended to the Papacy. There is a brick bell tower on the Piazza Comunale, but it is shorter than its religious counterpart, and as such, the arrangement symbolizes the superior power of the church.

The Palazzo Borgia is now home to the Diocesan Museum, and the Duomo incorporates the Museo della Catedrale. The Diocesan collection includes local textile work as well as religious artifacts. Paintings include a 7th century painting of Christ on the Cross (La Croce), 14th century works by Pietro Lorenzetti (Madonna col Bambino) and Bartolo di Fredi (Madonna della Misericordia). There are also important works from the 14th and 15th centuries, including a Madonna attributed to Luca Signorelli.

Streets in Town Centre of Pienza, Italy - Photo by Jesse Andrews

Not much remains of old Corsignano, but the Chiesa di San Francesco, with a gabled facade and gothic portal, is among the buildings that survived. It is built on a pre-existing church that dated from the 8th century. The interior contains frescoes depicting the life of Saint Francis, those on the walls having been painted by Cristofano di Bindoccio and Meo di Pero, 14th century artists of the Sienna school.

Other buildings worth noting in Pienza include the Ammannati, the Gonzaga and the Palazzo di Cardinale Atrebatense, all built in the 15th century.

As small a town as Pienza is, it offers a complete Renaissance experience on a small scale. The drive to and from Pienza, through the Val d'Orcia, and a few hours in Pienza itself, including a couple of hours eating delicious Tuscan cuisine at one of the town's restaurant's is a fine idea. Don't think about it too long though. Just do it!

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Pienza in pictures

Gallery

A few frames from our own trips. The rest are in the gallery below.

Pecorino Cheese from Pienza Italy

View from Pienza over Orcia Valley Tuscany

Tuscan Apperativo Pienza

Beautiful Villa in Fall, the Val DOrcia, Italy

Orcia Valley Tuscany Landscape

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Multi-Day Holidays Tours

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Florence, Tuscany and the Italian Riviera

A classic introduction to the must-see sites of Tuscany and Cinque Terre. From the wine-growing lands of Chianti and Val d'Orcia to the Renaissance splendour and the museums of Florence, the tour ends in the incredible natural beauty of the Italian...

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10 Days / 9 Nights

Private & Small Group Tours in Pienza

Days out with people who know the way

Private Wine Tour of the Orcia Valley

The Orcia Velley in south-eastern Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions in Tuscany and a world renowned UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for the golf-course-like hills of green and gold (depending on what season you visit), this area is fam...

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Pienza, Montepulciano and Tuscany's Beautiful Orcia Valley

The Orcia Valle or Val D`Orcia located in South Eastern Tuscany is an area of Tuscany very infrequently visited by tourists, although it is one of Italy`s most beautiful landscapes to behold and we highly recommend if you have the time that you disco...

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8 hours

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Castiglion Fiorentino

Terme di San Filippo - San Filippo Natura Hot Springs, Tuscany

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Terme di San Filippo - San Filippo Natura Hot Springs, Tuscany

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Our Featured Properties

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Villa Casavecchia

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La Dimora Regale 2 featured rental property in Pienza

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La Dimora Regale 2

2 Beds 2 Baths 4+2

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Italy Vacation Specialists provides licensed private transfer services throughout Italy, including Pienza and surrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience, our professional English-speaking drivers offer both Business Class and Luxury Class vehicles for airport transfers, city-to-city rides, and full-day chauffeur services. All vehicles are fully insured, well-maintained, and operated by vetted local drivers who know the roads, traffic patterns, and best routes across the region.

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