The story of Pienza, town of the Toscana of 2.000 inhabitants in the province of Siena, between Val d'Orcia , Valdichiana, begins in 1462 when the Pope Pius II, to the century Enea Silvio Piccolomini, after stopping in his native Corsignano during a trip to Mantova and having been unfavorably struck by its poor and degraded appearance, he decides to transform the city and build his summer residence there.
- 1 The ideal Renaissance city
- 2 Medieval buildings
- 3 Piazza Pio II
- 4 Pienza Cathedral
- 5 Palazzo Piccolomini
- 6 Town Hall or Praetorian Palace
- 7 Bishop's Palace or Borgia Palace
- 8 Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Pienza
- 9 Tepotratos Museum of Monticchiello, Pienza
- 10 Corso Rossellino
- 11 What to eat in Pienza
- 12 Where to sleep in Pienza
To do this, entrust the task to Bernardo Rossellino, architect follower of Leon Battista Alberti.
Here are 10 things to do and see in Pienza, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1 The ideal Renaissance city
Leon Battista Alberti he was one of the theorists of the ideal Renaissance city, whose main characteristic was the organization of space based on ideal principles of balance, functionality and rational order. The Pienza of Rossellino represents one of the first applications of these principles. Although the works lasted only until 1464, the year of the death of both the pope and the architect, the work has its own complete meaning and has not undergone any changes up to the present day.
Rossellino leaves the structure of the medieval side streets unchanged, but clearly defines the urban layout with a central street, the current Corso Rossellino, which connects the two gates of the city, the Giglio Gate , Door to the Prado. On this occasion, the entire city wall was rebuilt. The center of the village is the Piazza Pio II, where they arise Cathedral and the main city buildings.
2 Medieval buildings
Around forty public and private medieval buildings are renovated or replaced, giving a widespread stylistic homogeneity: in fact, the cardinal's residences are affected by this intervention, but also 12 residential buildings for the people located near the walls in the area of Giglio Gate.
The unitary vision of the project is evident: the perspectives created by the road system and the lines of the paved streets which integrate neatly with the vertical lines of the buildings make the whole particularly harmonious. Despite the difference in appearance of the various buildings, the Renaissance stylistic imprint is evident and completely replaces the medieval one. Finally, and once again according to the parameters of the ideal city, visual spaces are opened, such as the portico of Palazzo Piccolomini, which connect the city with the surrounding environment.
3 Piazza Pio II
The center of Pienza, it has been said, is the Piazza Pio II, adjacent to the main street. Its trapezoidal shape arises from the need to place the main buildings of the city in a limited space, respecting the road axis and at the same time counterbalancing the perspective convergence of the lines of the buildings towards the horizon. The perspectives are further emphasized by the flooring, in terracotta divided by travertine planks, to form a sort of grid.
4 Pienza Cathedral
La Pienza Cathedral occupies a scenic position in the square. Its external appearance is Renaissance and recalls the style of Leon Battista Alberti. The emblem of the tympanum dominates Santa Thirst and family Piccolomini. Since Pius II was fascinated by the Hallenkirchen Germans and the work of some intellectuals such as Nicholas of Cusa, the interior of the Cathedral presents several references to the Germanic Gothic style; the most obvious is represented by the stained glass windows. Finally, you can also admire valuable paintings by Sienese artists such as Old lady, Matthew of John e Sano di Pietro.
5 Piccolomini Palace
To the right of the Cathedral is the Pope's residence, Piccolomini Palace. Inspired by the Florentine Ruccellai Palace, work ofAlberti, has a smooth ashlar stone exterior. The most suggestive element of the building is the hanging garden, delimited by a façade with three orders of arches, and open onto the Val d'Orcia. The actual garden, divided geometrically through rectangular flowerbeds, acts as a link between architecture and nature, harmoniously integrating these two entities. The first floor of the Palace Piccolomini it is open to the public as a museum. It testifies with period furnishings how the history of Pienza is closely linked to the family Piccolomini.
6 Town Hall or Praetorian Palace
In front of the Cathedral the Palazzo Comunale (or Palazzo Pretorio) with a portico on the ground floor and a robust crenellated tower, typical of the Sienese and Florentine tradition.
7 Bishop's Palace or Borgia Palace
In front of Piccolomini Palace, instead, you can admire the Bishop's Palace (also known as Palazzo Borgia as the Pope donated it to Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia) and the House of the Canons, currently home to the Cathedral Museum.
8 Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Pienza
Il diocesan museum of sacred art of Pienza was born at the beginning of the twentieth century as Cathedral Museum to exhibit, in the canons' house, works from the cathedral treasury. It was reopened on May 7, 1998 as a diocesan museum.
9 Tepotratos Museum of Monticchiello, Pienza
The long history of Poor Theater of Monticchiello, matured in over forty years of activity, has given life to the very particular structure of TEPOTRATOS: artistic-museum installations through which not only traditional theatre, but also the world and peasant culture that generated it, trying to project itself towards the future . This is the meaning of the large overturned oak tree, with its roots reaching towards the sky, placed at the center of the installation. This is how tradition and progress, chronologically and culturally distant realities, come together in an interactive and multimedia show, where modern technology, arts and craftsmanship become the bond with which that past world approaches the show of Today. The songs of the maggiaioli and those of the bruscello flow from the microchips, the films of the Teatro Povero, of the befanatas, of the torches, of Sega the old lady...come to life, the peasant craftsmanship and a vast collection of old work tools. Of that work we encounter, with works of art, refined sculptures that tell us about the changes that have occurred in these lands which were and largely still are inextricably linked to generations of farmers. Evidence of this bond is the structure itself in which TEPOTRATOS stands, once a granary of the largest farm that collects the farms in Monticchiello, now restored to the community thanks to the Teatro Povero.
10 Corso Rossellino
The main road axis of the urban planning scheme of Pienza is the current one Corso Rossellino, along which there are numerous examples of valuable civil architecture bearing the names of noble families such as Ammannati, Gonzaga e jouffroy. The thirteenth century also overlooks the Corso Church of St. Francis, in sober Franciscan Gothic style. Finally, Corso Rossellino is also the shopping street, with numerous shops selling typical local products, first of all pecorino cheese.
11 What to eat in Pienza
La pietina cuisine it is very varied and is rooted in local traditions. Don't miss the "Florentine steak“, I liver crostini, cold cuts and cheese of the place, like the well-known "pecorino di Pienza“. Also widespread, as in various areas of Tuscany, are dishes based on game.
12 Where to sleep in Pienza
Pienza offers various solutions in terms of hospitality. As in the rest of Tuscany, Pienza offers both overnight stays in hotels and in non-hotel facilities. Sleeping in Pienza it can have a variable cost depending on the type and tourist offer.
