Pienza is one of the most beautiful and visited cities in the Val d’Orcia. It is located in the province of Siena, in Tuscany and has just over 2000 inhabitants.
Born from a thought of love and a dream of beauty, as Giovanni Pascoli wrote, this village is considered the embodiment of the Renaissance utopia of the ideal city. In 1996 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in 2004 the entire Val d’Orcia was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Landscapes.
Piazza Pio II is the heart of the city. The Duomo, a beautiful 1459 cathedral dedicated to the Madonna dell’Assunta, Palazzo Piccolomini and the Palazzo Vescovile where the famous Diocesan Museum is located, overlook it. To the side of the Cathedral is the so-called Pozzo dei Cani. Absolutely to visit the church of San Giovanni, located just below the Duomo, where the baptismal font of Renaissance origin is well preserved.
The Pieve di Corsignano is located about 1 km from the center and is characterized by a cylindrical bell tower. The current structure, in Romanesque style, dates back to the 12th century, its origins are even older.
The Streets of Love are four very romantic alleys that attract hundreds of tourists to the town during the Valentine’s Day: Via del Bacio, Via dell’Amore, Via della Fortuna and Via del Buia. This city is so romantic that the director Franco Zeffirelli, in 1968, chose it to shoot some scenes of his famous Romeo and Juliet.
This wonderful city is also famous for its pecorino, which is worthily celebrated every year, from 31 August to 6 September, with the Fiera del Cacio, an event full of events and tastings. The Fair always ends with a dance in the square.
The Palio del Cacio al Fuso is a popular game typical of this area, of ancient origins, even mentioned in the sixteenth-century statutes of the city of Pienza. The Palio del Cacio Fuso is one of the most important events of the Cacio Fair.
Pienza is located in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, 20 km east of Montalcino and a few kilometers west of Montepulciano. Those coming by car from Florence along the A1 can exit at Valdichiana – Bettolle, continue towards Torrita di Siena and then follow the signs for this city. Those coming from Rome, on the other hand, can exit at the Chiusi – Chianciano Terme tollbooth and continue towards Montepulciano. From Siena, take the Cassia to San Quirico d’Orcia and continue to your destination.
Since 1967, the Teatro Povero has become a regular event in which the population itself staged an autodrama. The theatrical performances are repeated for about three weeks between July and August, in the Piazza del Teatro di Montichiello which acts as a natural stage.
Nearby…
Nearby is Bagno Vignoni with its thermal baths, known since the times of the Etruscans and Romans and frequented by illustrious people, such as Santa Caterina da Siena, Pope Pius II and Lorenzo de ‘Medici.
Institutional and tourist sites
Municipality website
Find out on Wikipedia
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