Pienza is without a doubt one of the most important and well known towns of the Val d’Orcia, located in the province of Siena. Easily accessible as it is located not too far away  from the regional Cassia road, this is an absolute must see during our Tuscan tours. It boasts not only of natural beauty, but both artistic and cultural beauty as well, all of which earned Pienza the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Briefly outlining the history, we can begin by noting that Pienza rarely took part in the various wars that came through central Italy during the Middle ages and the small size of the city was always maintained. The event that then changed the history of this small town occurred in 1405 with the birth of Enea Silvio Piccolomini who would later become Pope Pius II. He later returned to his birthplace and entrusted the architect Bernardo Rossellino with all of the work that would prove to transform this small hamlet into a typical city of the 1400’s.
What to see in Pienza:
Pienza is a Renaissance city in design, yet it is a rare example of one that was actually brought to completion. Most of the artistic and cultural heritage is concentrated in the enchanting, trapezoidal-shaped piazza that is dedicated to Pius II. Facing the square you can find both the Duomo and the Palazzo Piccolomoni, which was the residence of Pope Pius II and today is home to an important library rich with rare and antique books. There are also the Palazzo dei Priori and the Palazzo Borgia, the latter which Pius II desired for a priest who had become one of his most important followers, Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (who was later to become Pope Alexander). The Casa dei Canonici is found on the left of the square, which was also built in the 1400’s and today houses the Museo Comunale (Community museum).
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