Pienza
Pienza is a city in the Val d'Orcia region of Tuscany, Italy.
Understand
Pienza, formerly the village of Corsignano, was renamed and redesigned as a completely planned Gothic town, in honor of and at the command of the most famous of all its inhabitants in history, Pope Pius II (1405-1464; reigned as Pope starting in 1458). Its Centro Storico is a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO's listing for Pienza can be seen at this link.
Get in
Buses run from Montepulciano (8 per day, 30 minutes), Montalcino (10 per day, change to line #114 in Torrenieri, lengthy changing time) and Siena (SITA runs several, though the number varies by season, 1 hour 15 minutes travel time; however, the latest bus returning from Pienza always leaves at 14:44).
Get around
Walk. There's no need for public transit in this compact town.
See
- Piazza Pio II A grand & elegant square, surrounded by the city hall, with its bell tower, & the Piccolomini family palace
- Duomo It dominates the Piazza, with a fine interior & beautiful windows
- Palazzo Piccolomini, ☏ +39 0578-749-071. Once home of Pius II & the Piccolomini family, it can be visited with a 30 minute guided tour. €3.50, open Tu-Su 10:00-12:30 & 15:00-18:00, closed Monday & in the winter.
- The Diocesan Museum is filled with church paintings from the 12th to 17th centuries, €4.10, open W-M 10:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, closed Tuesday, open only on weekends in winter, on Corso il Rossellino.
- View Terrace To the left of the church is a lane leading to a panorama of the countryside.
Do
- Tourist Information, fax: +39 0578-749-905. The office is just up the street from Piazza Pio II, open M-Sa 10:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, closed Sunday, you can leave your bags here.
- Market Day is Friday
Buy
Eat
- Latte di Luna. It has indoor & outdoor seating.
- La Taverna di Re Artu, Via della Rosa. Daily 10:30-20:30. It serves bruschetta and a wide variety of wine.
- Ristorante dal Falco is a modern place with outdoor & indoor seating, €6 pastas, open Saturday to Thursday 12:00-15:00 & 19:00-22:00, closed Friday, on Piazza Dante Alighieri. Telephone: 0578-749-856, open Wednesday to Monday 12:30-14:30 & 19:30-21:30, closed Tuesday, at Porta al Giglio on Via San Carlo. Telephone: 0578-748-606
Drink
Sleep
- Agriturismo Le Macchie, Monticchiello di Pienza, ☏ +39 06-68809301. Farmhouse.
- Agriturismo Terrapille, on route #18 towards Monticchiello, ☏ +39 0578-748-434, +39 338-920-4470 (Mobile). It's right below Pienza on a bluff, 4 rooms & 2 apartments, pool. Double w/bathroom €95, Quadruple w/bathroom €160, breakfast €7.50, dinner on request for €25.
- Oliviera Camere, Via Condotti, ☏ +39 0578-748-205, +39 338-952-0459 (Mobile). Six simple rooms, breakfast in room, cash only, owner doesn't speak English. Double w/bathroom €50.
- Il Giardino Segreto Camere, Via Condotti, ☏ +39 0578-748-539, +39 338-899-5879 (Mobile). Six rooms with a lovely, quiet garden, Double w/bathroom €62, apartment €67.
Go next
Buses leave for Siena (6 per day, 90 minutes) & Montepulciano (8 per day, 30 minutes). Buy bus tickets from bar right buy town gate.
Aside from these towns, the cities of Florence, Pisa, & San Gimignano are great to go to.