Pienza is a small Renaissance jewel in the heart of Tuscany. It is a prefect example of Renaissance philosophy, which sought to create an "ideal" model of life and government on earth. This gave rise to the notion of a town where peaceful and industrious civil harmony could be attainable. For these reasons the town of Pienza is known as the "utopic town".


The centre of the urban structure of Pienza is PIAZZA PIO II. All the principal monuments of this town give on to this central square: the Palazzo Vescovile, previously known as Palazzo Borgia, the Palazzo Pubblico, Palazzo Ammannati and the Cathedral, with it's wooden choir from 1462, its works of art by Vecchietta, by Sano di Pietro, by Matteo di Giovanni and a christening fountain by Rossellino.
To the right of the Cathedral is the grand Palazzo Piccolomini, residence of the Pope, inside which one can visit the arms room, the Pope's bedroom, the library and Pio II and Pio III's collection of medals.

THE DUOMO
The Cathedral rises up from the site of the ancient Pieve di Santa Maria and is of scenic splendour from wherever it is viewed.
The cathedral complex takes after gothic Franciscan churches and after German "Hallenkrchen" that Pio II had admired in his many trips to the North of Europe. However the façade is entirely in the style of the Renaissance, and was built under the direct influence of Leon Battista Alberti, the famous theoretician of classical Italian architecture of the 1400s.
The inside of the Cathedral of Pienza is Latin cross with three aisles divided by tall pillars surrounded by semi-columns. According to the wishes of Pio II, the middle aisle is wider than the outer ones, but of the same height, so as to allow more light into the room. Inside, gothic elements blend harmoniously with renaissance architecture.
Inside the Duomo are five paintings by artists of the Sienese school.
These are: la Madonna col Bambino e i Santi Bernardino, Antonio abate, Francesco e Sabina by Giovanni di Paolo; Madonna con Bambino trai Santi Lucia, Bartolomeo, Matteo e Caterina d'Alessandria by Matteo di Giovanni, Vergine Assunta e i Santi Agata, Pio I, Callisto e Caterina da Siena

CHURCH of SAN GIOVANNI (BATTISTERO)
The church is built under the apse of the Duomo, and holds the christening font and some of the ruins of the ancient Romanesque church of Santa Maria, that was demolished in 1459 to make way for Pio II's new church. Because it is situated below the Duomo's apse, the Pienza Baptistry has the appearance of a true crypt. Unfortunately the cracks that are visible in the cathedral are also present in this lower construction that rests together with the apse on an unstable clay cliff.

PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI
Palazzo Piccolomini was built by Pope Pio II as a family residence.
In order to build it, the architect Rossellino had the old Piccolomini homes demolished. In this building the influence of the architect Alberti is very strong. Indeed, Rossellino was directly inspired by Palazzo Ruccellai in Florence, a building designed by the great architect himself and overseen by the pupil-collaborator Rossellino.
Even with its grand structure the palace blends in with the other much smaller buildings around the square. One such example is the white travertine well, located at the foot of the palace, which blends in harmoniously with the great building itself, even though it is not of monumental proportion.
The well's design is also by Rossellino. It is a perfect and elegant structure that was often imitated in the following century, especially around Tuscany. Of particular interest is the courtyard within Palazzo Piccolomini. It is extremely elegant and surrounded by Corinthian columns. It leads on to a hanging garden onto which the palace faces, with three loggias placed one above the other. The Italian garden is still intact and to this day acts as an ideal bridge between the architectural space and the surrounding nature, a marvel to withhold from Monte Cetona to Monte Amiata.
Nowadays Palazzo Piccolomini has become a museum where one may visit the old arms room, Pope Pio II's study and bedroom and the library.

PALAZZO VESCOVILE (Palazzo Borgia)
Having built his own palace and the Duomo, Pio II encouraged the cardinals to build their own worthy residences that would act as their homes during their stays in Pienza.
Pio II himself brought for Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (who then became the future Pope Alexander VI) the old magistrate's palace so that it would be demolished and rebuilt in the modern style. Borgia however did not destroy the old building and limited himself to transforming it, especially the front, and to lift it by a floor, adapting the internal halls. The palace was damaged during the last war. Borgia's residence, donated by him in 1468, became the bishop's palace until this day.
Nowadays Palazzo Borgia has become the Diocesan Museum and holds in its 11 halls several paintings of the Sienese school from the 13th to the 18th centuries painted by Lorenzetti, Signorelli, as well as the illuminated codes (codici miniati), and Flemish tapestries.

Along with the permanent show, the museum also holds contemporary art shows and other events.

IL PALAZZO PUBBLICO

Finally the Pope wanted the people of Pienza to have their own Public Palace. This palace was erected at the same time as the Duomo's bell tower, and it is the only building in the square that has graphite decorations. In the lower part there is a loggia divided by large ionic columns, held up by a platform who's façade is made by a compact wall interrupted by four large mullioned windows with two lights. On the right rises the cotto tower.
The original antique clock that is cited in Pio II's commentaries, was substituted in 1568 with another one taken from Certosa di Pontignano.
It is likely that the Palace, probably designed by Rossellino, together with the bell tower, was built mostly by his collaborator Puccio di Paolo, who is often cited in the documents related to the construction of Pienza.

CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO
This church is on the Corso, towards Porta al Murello, just beyond Palazzo Piccolomini. It is the only important medieval building within the town. It has only one nave, with walls that were originally covered with frescos. Nowadays few remains of these frescos are left near the apse. The church however still has a painting from Duccio di Boninsegna's school and frescos from the XIV and XV centuries, a painting of the Madonna attributed to Luca Signorelli and paintings by Matteo Balducci and Ugolino Lorenzetti. The wooden Crucifix by Maestro di San Pietro in Rosso has been moved to the Diocesan Museum.

The DIOCESAN MUSEUM of PIENZA
On the 7th of May 1997 the newly refurbished Diocesan Museum of Pienza was inaugurated in the Palazzo Vescovile in Viale Rossellino.
The museum of Pienza holds an extremely rich collection of art works, paintings, jewellery, tapestries, vestments and vessels, triptychs and altar pieces, and wooden sculptures that are closely tied to the history of Pope Pio II Piccolomini's town.

To this day Pienza is still a town full of charm. Walking through its narrow alleys arouses deep emotions.
Along the town's streets one finds romantic corners and stunning architecture: Pio II's "case nuove", a neighbourhood that was built to accommodate the families that had been moved when building the Pope's palaces; the S. Carlo conservatory, an ancient fortress that was transformed into a religious institute that now holds the convention centre, the library, and in the near future the town's museum; the Gozzante quarter, the oldest part of town, with small houses that were built on the slope that faces the Val D'Orcia.
From Pienza it is not difficult to appreciate splendid views of the Val d'Orcia set in between the Monte Amiata, the Rocca di Radicofani and the ridge that harbours Montalcino.

Just next to Pienza is the Pieve di Corsignano, an exceptional example of Romanesque art, a fascinating monument, and essential to an understanding of the history and origins of Pienza.
It is just a short walk along the road towards Le Fonti.
Here there are two stunning decorated portals, a cylindrical belfry, and all the sculptures that the stonemasons left on the inside and the outside of the church. Of particular interest is the miniscule crypt under the presbytery.
The Pieve di Corsignano is set in a fascinating landscape and natural environment.