# Pienza

> Pienza is the creation of Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini in this very town. From 1459 he had it rebuilt as a Renaissance town, designed by…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/pienza/

A small Tuscan town rebuilt in the Renaissance as an ideal village, with a harmonious central square and a belvedere over the Val d'Orcia. Try the local pecorino from the shops along the main street.

Pienza is the creation of Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini in this very town. From 1459 he had it rebuilt as a Renaissance town, designed by Bernardo Rossellino, who applied the principles of his mentor Leon Battista Alberti. The centre is the trapezoidal Piazza Pio II, laid out between 1459 and 1462. It is framed by the cathedral, Palazzo Piccolomini, Palazzo Borgia and the town hall. The cathedral has a travertine façade. UNESCO inscribed the town on the World Heritage List in 1996 as the first application of the Renaissance humanist concept of urban design.

Pienza lies in the province of Siena, in the Val d'Orcia. The square is paved in brick and shows how consistently the plan was carried out.

- **Nearest town:** Pienza, Italy
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 43.0766, 11.6787

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Italy: Motorway tolls.** Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.

## Sources

- [Historic Centre of Pienza – UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/789)
- [Piazza Pio II in Pienza – Visit Tuscany](https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/piazza-pio-ii-in-pienza/)

## Nearby

- [Val d'Orcia cypresses](https://camping-spirit.com/places/val-dorcia/) – 6 km
- [Bagno Vignoni](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b11-bagno-vignoni/) – 7 km
- [San Biagio church](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b11-san-biagio/) – 8 km
- [Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b11-monte-oliveto/) – 15 km

## FAQs

### Where is Pienza?

Pienza is in Pienza, Italy, at GPS 43.0766, 11.6787. It is about 6 km from San Quirico d’Orcia.

### Can you camp near Pienza?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Parcheggio Mencatelli - Pienza, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 30 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Pienza?

Places worth a stop nearby: Val d'Orcia cypresses (6 km), Bagno Vignoni (7 km), San Biagio church (8 km) and Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore (15 km).

### When is the best time to visit Pienza?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)