Pienza

A Renaissance dream perfectly preserved

Tucked into the rolling hills of Tuscany, Pienza is a Renaissance dream made real. Pope Pius II transformed this tiny town in the 15th century. What he wanted? The ideal city. What he left us? A masterpiece of proportion and beauty. Every piazza and palace sits in perfect balance.

Start at the Piazza Pio II, where the cathedral's honey-coloured façade catches the sunlight. The square feels somehow like a grand room of a house, with the Palazzo Piccolomini standing proud on one side. Hit the palazzo if you can, the hanging gardens at the back reveal views of swaying cypress trees across the golden Val d'Orcia.

Pienza’s caves burst with pecorino cheese, aged with walnut leaves, the air hanging with a cloud of its signature scent. The shops along Corso il Rossellino are stacked with wheels of this local delicacy, and the owners are happy to offer a taste. Pair it with local honey or a glass of Brunello, and you have got yourself a proper Tuscan moment.

The town is small enough to explore in a morning, but linger if you can. There is something about Pienza that makes you want to slow down, to sit on a low wall with a view and just breathe it all in. Go in spring when wildflowers blanket the hills, or autumn when the vines turn amber. Either way, bring your camera, every corner here looks like a painting.