Discover four architectural wonders located in the main square of Pienza: Palazzo Piccolomini and its Renaissance garden, Palazzo Borgia and the Diocesan Museum, the Cathedral, the crypt and the labyrinth.
The magnificent Piccolomini Palace was built in 1459 and is unanimously considered the first example of Renaissance architecture. It was commissioned by Enea Silvio Piccolomini (who later became Pope Pius II) to Bernardo Rossellino, as part of a project to rebuild Pienza as an ideal city. The design of the palace is inspired by the models of Florentine private architecture.
The building is found in a lovely location, right in the center of Pienza near the Duomo. Built on a regular plan around a courtyard with a fountain in the center, it has as its true architectural theme the relationship with the landscape: from the porch on the backside, you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the Val d'Orcia and Monte Amiata. A perfect mixture of art and nature.
In addition to Palazzo Piccolomini, the pass Pienza Città di Luce includes access to the Diocesan Museum located inside Palazzo Borgia, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta designed by Rossellino, and the Church of San Giovanni, also called the crypt. From here, you'll enter the labyrinth, a system of drainage tunnels dug under the apse of the Cathedral.
Pienza Città di Luce (valid for 2 days): Palazzo Piccolomini, Palazzo Borgia - Diocesan Museum, Cathedral, crypt and labyrinth
