Pienza @ Renaissance Town and UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Pienza stands over the ancient fortified hamlet of Corsignano. The first documents about the village date back to 828 and report the existence of a castle in the territory of San Salvatore Abbey, which
Siena absorbed during the 13th century.
Pienza owes its prosperity to Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who became Pope in 1459 assuming the name of Pius II. During a visit in the city where he was born, the Pope decided to build there a country house for his family and a church. Within only four years, from 1459 to 1462, Corsignano was transformed into a noble little Renaissance town. Pope Pius II renamed it
Pienza which means the of Pius. In 1559
Pienza became an episcopal town and was annexed to the
Grand Duchy of Tuscany In 1996 the city was included in UNESCO`s list of World Heritage Sites.
Pienza
Still surrounded by its ancient city walls,
Pienza stands in the
Natural, artistic and cultural park of the Val d`Orcia.
Pienza is to be visited on foot, after having parked the car in Piazza Alighieri.
Pienza features many interesting monuments, all along via Rossellino, the town`s main street: from the church of San Francesco, a Gothic building dating back to the 13th century, to Piazza Pio II, with Palazzo Piccolomini (the residence of the Piccolominis), Palazzo Borgia (which Pius II commissioned for Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, the future Pope Alexander VI. At present, the building houses the Museo Diocesano), the
Palazzo Pubblico (Pienza`s town hall) and the Cathedral.
Once arrived at Porta al Ciglio, a panoramic walk along the city walls leads to piazza Alighieri.
Archaeology and town planning lovers can visit the
Museo archeologico e della cittą, where collections of Etruscan finds are on display and an itinerary dedicated to
Pienza urbanistic history has been organized.
