We are in Val d'Orcia, in southern Tuscany, a few kilometers from both Montalcino and Montepulciano. Here is the village of Pienza, a postcard wonder that unfolds among breathtaking views and rolling hills.
Today known throughout the world for its beauty, Pienza has a fairly recent history. In fact, the town was nothing more than a small village called Corsignano until 1462 when Pope Pius II decided to rebuild the place where he was born. But let's look at the story calmly.
Enea Silvio Piccolomini was born in Corsignano in 1405 and became pope at the age of 53 with the name of Pope Pius II. During a journey to Mantua the now pontiff found himself once again crossing the place where he was born and was greatly surprised by the degradation he found, so much so that he decided to have the village rebuilt or rather, he thought it best to have an ideal city built. The project was entrusted to the architect Bernardo Rossellino. The construction lasted abou…