A jewel in Val d’Orcia: Pienza
Named after the Pope Pius II, Pienza is the first example of city planning in the early Renaissance, thanks to the efforts of an architect from Florence, entrusted with this work directly by the Pope. The main square features the Cathedral, a unicum in the history of art, and the Piccolomini palace, with a beautiful hanging garden overlooking the spectacular rolling hills of the Orcia valley.
If you like cheese you are in the right place, as Pienza is renowned for its pecorino (sheep's milk cheese). You can taste different kinds of it, all of them with a special flavour thanks to the local herbs grazed by the sheep.
Do you know that?
Pienza has funny names for its streets. You find the very romantic via dell'amore (love) and via del bacio (kiss). Then there are also Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti, just like in the centre of Rome... but on a smaller scale!
Piccolomini Palace
Cathedral
back of the Cathedral
Cathedral nave
'via dell'amore' sign
pecorino
If you want to take a hike, have a look at the related walking tour Pienza to Montepulciano.
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