Things to Do in Pienza, Tuscany: What to See and Visit

Pienza is a Renaissance town in Tuscany, redesigned by Pope Pius II Piccolomini in the 15th century.

Visiting Pienza is one of the greatest experiences that you can have in Val d’Orcia. It is located in the province of Siena, in Tuscany and has just over 2,000 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

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. You should definitely visit the church of San Giovanni, located just below the Duomo, where the baptismal font of Renaissance origin is well preserved.

La Pieve di Corsignano

The Pieve di Corsignano is located about 1 km from the centre 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.

Strade dell’Amore (Streets of Love)

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 town is so romantic that the director Franco Zeffirelli, in 1968, chose it to shoot some scenes of his famous Romeo and Juliet.

Fiera del Cacio (cheese fair)

This wonderful town is also famous for its Pecorino cheese, which is worthily celebrated every year, from the 31st of August to the 6th of September, with the Fiera del Cacio, an event full of events and tastings. The Fair always ends with a dance in the square

Palio del Cacio Fuso (Palio of melted cheese)

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 town of Pienza. The Palio del Cacio Fuso is one of the most important events of the Fiera del Cacio.

How to get there

Pienza is located in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, 20 km east of Montalcino and a few kilometres 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. On the other hand, those coming from Rome 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

Monticchiello and the Teatro Povero

Since 1967, the Teatro Povero has become a regular event in which the population itself stages an autodramma. 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 attended by illustrious people, such as Santa Caterina da Siena, Papa Pio II and Lorenzo de ‘Medici.

Institutional and tourist websites

Municipality website
Find out on Wikipedia

Do you want to know the feedbacks of tourists? Visit the TripAdvisor page.