It owes its fame to the famous pecorino, a delicious, one of the oldest cheeses in the world, still prepared thousands of years ago... The Val d’Orcia, a #UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes the historic centers and much of the territory of the municipalities of Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani, San Quirico d’Orcia... #tuttitaly
Pienza is the name given in the 15th century to Corsignano, the small native village of Pope Pius II.
The Pope wanted to make this place the ideal city of the Renaissance. He made it so beautiful and filled it with such art treasures that in 1996, Pienza became a UNESCO heritage site.
The Cathedral of the Assumption, the Palazzo Piccolomini, the Palazzo Vescovile, and the Palazzo Comunale overlook the Piazza Pio II.
The Cathedral of the Assumption is particular for its eclectic style, inspired by the Hallenkirchen of Northern Europe. Inside are several preserved works, including the altarpieces made by the significant Sienese painters of the time and sculptural fragments dormant in the crypt, which come from the previous Romanesque church of Santa Maria demolished to make way for the new religious building.
Palazzo Piccolomini was built as the residence of the Pope and his family.
Today, it has been transformed into a museum where you can admire the sumptuously decorated apartments and the different rooms, including the Sala delle Armi, the library, and the study. Franco Zeffirelli also chose the building to shoot some scenes of the luxurious film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet: it is here that the two lovers meet for the first time at the party in the Capulet house.
The Bishop's Palace was built for Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, the future Pope Alexander VI.
Today, the building is the seat of the Diocesan Museum of Pienza and preserves evidence of Sienese painting from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century.
The Town Hall is the seat of the Municipal Administration. In addition to the large loggia supported by travertine columns and the decorated façade, it has a brick tower rigorously lower than the bell tower to highlight that ecclesiastical power had more value than civil power.
Pienza also owes its fame to the famous pecorino, a delicious cheese made with sheep's milk: it is one of the oldest cheeses in the world, still prepared as it was thousands of years ago.
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