We stayed in the picture-perfect tiny village of Pienza in southern Tuscany for three nights. It is in the Val d’Orcia, between Montecatini and Montepulciano and is the ideal base for exploring the area. Even though we were off during much of the day on side trips, we always had some time to return to this lovely village. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site for its depiction of a utopian Renaissance city.
Pienza was founded in 1300 when it became the property of the Piccolomini family and in 1405 Aeneas Silvias Piccolomini was born. An Italian humanist later to become Pope Pius II, as pope, he changed its name from Corsignano, and had the entire village rebuilt as an ideal Renaissance town, with the core of the city anchored from its central piazza. He meant for it to be a retreat from the stress of ruling in Rome. Today, day trippers come to enjoy the views and architecture, but those who stay here get to enjoy it as temporary residents.
We enjoyed visiting the Palazzo Piccolomini, the family estate, and it was only recently when I got home that I realized that some of the rooms were used in the classic Zefferelli film version of Romeo and Juliet, filmed in the late 60s. The gardens at dusk were spectacular. Family lived in the home until the early 1960s. Unfortunately, we were unable to photograph the interior.
We had some free time one of the mornings when we were there, so we had lovely walk in the countryside surrounding the village
It was a pleasure to visit Tuscany and to be able to come home to this ideal village each night.
