Pope Pius II's ideal Renaissance town, and its pecorino
When Enea Silvio Piccolomini became Pope Pius II in 1458, he decided to transform his native village, Corsignano, into an ideal Renaissance town. In just four years the architect Bernardo Rossellino built a cathedral, a papal palace and a town hall around a trapezoid square, and the village was renamed Pienza. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palazzo Piccolomini has a hanging garden and a loggia overlooking the Val d'Orcia and Monte Amiata. The cathedral is full of light, as the pope wanted, with altarpieces by the great Sienese painters. Walk along the panoramic walls and the lanes with romantic names, such as Via dell'Amore and Via del Bacio.
Tip: Pienza is the capital of pecorino: try the fresh, aged or ash-coated versions in the shops of Corso Rossellino, and visit in September for the Fiera del Cacio.
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