Tuscan Excursion Part 2: Exploring Pienza
As we conversed with our hotel's hostess Florence about where we were headed next, we mentioned that it would be Pienza. Ironically, she was born and raised there and had this to say about the town: “It is by far the most beautiful place in the world!”. That would sound like a charged statement to anyone, but once we arrived, I realized that her description was completely based on facts. It’s is literally one of the most peaceful and picturesque places I have ever seen.
Situated between Montepulciano and Montalcino, it is a gem of the renaissance era largely due to Pope Pius II’s involvement in the town (it is named after him). It lends most of its picturesque beauty to being in the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany with its rolling hills and cypress trees that adorn the land.
Things to Do:
Visit Pienza’s Old Town. It’s small so it can be explored in a few hours. Seeing the Duomo up close is a must, particularly if you’re into renaissance-style architecture. The bell tower hovering in the sky is also a beautiful sight to see. Pienza is very laid back so strolling is a must. Duck into one of the many alleyways and take in what is meant to be an authentic Italian way of life.
Cyprus trees with views of the Val d’orcia
Pienza Storefronts
Homes in Pienza
The Duomo
If you’re a cheese lover like I am, this is heaven. All the cheese you can imagine is here with an assortment of meats. Makes for a great cheeseboard. This cheese shop has the pleasure of being the same one that was in an episode of the tv show (and one of my favorites) Master of None.
Take a drive through the Tuscan countryside and take in the breathtaking views. Literally every town that you go to, you can just hop out of your car and be amazed at the views of the Tuscan countryside that never fail to look like they were plucked out of a painting.
Where to Eat:
After a long day of exploring Al Fierale was a nice place to cap off the day. The food here was great, especially the meat. The Pecorino di Pienza was especially tasty and worth the price tag. It’s quite lively inside, but there Is also outdoor seating if you’d like a quiet time. We opted for the outdoor seating as we wanted to relax after a long day and have a nice and quiet meal. Definitely a good place to pop into if you’re looking to grab a bite to eat for dinner.
You will see me mention gelatos a lot! Every town that you arrive at will have someone seeking amazing tasting gelatos. A friend of ours recommended this gelato spot to us before coming to Italy, so we had to make sure to check it off of our list. This was one of the best locations—a nice treat to have whilst exploring the town’s limits.
List of Additional Restaurants in Pienza
Where to Stay:
During the planning of this trip, I was looking for the best small town that could be a springboard for all the other small towns in the area. Pienza came highly recommended and I’m glad we decided to stay in this gorgeous town.
We stayed in one of the best private villas we could find in Pienza. Many villas have more than one group of patrons at a time, but we found a gem that we had all to ourselves. A Dutch painter loved it so much he’d come back repeatedly as he painted the view from outside the main window. The owner was nice and accommodating and we had a cat to keep us company. She was great 😂
