Piazza Pio II
Piazza Pio II
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
930 reviews
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553
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323
Average
46
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4
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4
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,642 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
The main and only square of Pienza bears the name of its founder as a city. The name, or rather the surname, of Pius II is also borne by the palace- Palazzo Piccolomini. It, like the cathedral and the entire square, was built by the architect Rossellino. Rossellino took the Florentine Rucellai Palace, which was built by his teacher Alberti, as a model. The palace is now a museum, but cinematographers love it more than tourists. The series "Medici" was filmed here, which, according to the plot, is kind of like in Florence. The great Franco Zeffirelli filmed the Shakespearean passions of his version of Romeo and Juliet here. The dominant feature of the square is the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady - Santa Maria Assunta. Due to the lack of space, Rossellino, violating the canon, was forced to turn it around on the south-north axis, and the northern facade was brought to the square. Opposite the Piccolomini Palace stands the Bishop's Palace or Palazzo Borgia. Yes, yes, the same Rodrigo Borgia, who later became the famous Satan Pope Alexander VI. Pius II gave it to him when he was a cardinal. By the way, you can see the coat of arms of the Spanish Borgia family on the palace, as well as the coat of arms of the Sienese Piccolomini family on the pediment of the cathedral. And finally closes the Piazza Palazzo Comunale with a clock tower. The tallest building on the square and in Pienza.
Written April 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL5,621 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
In this pretty Renaissance town, the central Piazza Pio II is formed by 15th-century buildings like the Pienza Cathedral and Piccolomini Palace - Pope Pius II’s summer residence. The town is famous for its local pecorino sheep's milk cheese and you can smell, taste and buy it at many little stores in the town. In September 2021 that were not that many tourists which was pleasant for us but I’m sure worrying for all the store and restaurant owners.
Written September 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mfilcol2014
Lisbon, Portugal1,760 contributions
May 2022
Piazza Pio II is the main square of Pienza. Extremely elegant. It is where the beautiful Cathedral of Pienza is located and most of the Palazzos, namely Palazzo Piccolomini. Small garden very well maintained.
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah L
London, UK3,536 contributions
Apr 2023
You can tell this piazza is in a much smaller town just by the size of it and its surroundings. If you're expecting something like Piazza Navona or Piazza della Signoria, you'll be mistaken. This square is relatively small with the cathedral as the main attraction and no restaurants that surround its perimeter. A nice thing to see but more of a passing through visit than a sit and people watch.
Written April 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,846 contributions
Aug 2021
The is the main square in Pienza where the church is located along with the town hall. It is worth seeing if you are in town.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DianeER
Falls Church, VA2,351 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
Pienza is a very small touristy town. Pope Pius II was born here and hence it’s a tourist destination.
It’s a level flat village that will only take a few hours to see. Note that many of the hillside villages are very steep so it was a pleasure to have this village flat.
The view of the countryside is outstanding. We stood here for a long time just taking in the fabulous scenery.
It’s located between Montepulicano and Montalcino so a fabulous location for visiting both and the surrounding countryside.
This Piazza is OK but very small and has no wow factor. The piazza in Siena is far better.
There is not much to the town except for this piazza, cathedral and views of the countryside.
If you like my review, I hope you'll click the 'helpful' button; those of us who write reviews live for those and it motivates us to do more.
It’s a level flat village that will only take a few hours to see. Note that many of the hillside villages are very steep so it was a pleasure to have this village flat.
The view of the countryside is outstanding. We stood here for a long time just taking in the fabulous scenery.
It’s located between Montepulicano and Montalcino so a fabulous location for visiting both and the surrounding countryside.
This Piazza is OK but very small and has no wow factor. The piazza in Siena is far better.
There is not much to the town except for this piazza, cathedral and views of the countryside.
If you like my review, I hope you'll click the 'helpful' button; those of us who write reviews live for those and it motivates us to do more.
Written February 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanmouss
Oslo, Norway3,252 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
This square is where many pedestrian streets filled with artisans shops and local produce (including a choice of local delicacies) meet. It hides an amazing walk on the ancient city walls with a wonderful view (when facing the cathedral go left and then like my review ;-))
Written September 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandonthebeach
Sarasota, FL68 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
Sometimes when travelling we simply stop at the next town or village just to take in the local atmosphere. We pulled into Pienza off the road from Siena and were wonderfully surprised. We knew it had a model Renaissance town square, but the rest of the central town was amazing.
The cobblestone, pedestrian only main street was filled with shoppers who were leisurely inspecting the many kiosks and shops. It's an extremely picturesque village with a new photo opportunity seemingly around every corner. Unfortunately our camera was acting up so we couldn't get some of the photos we wanted, and the few we took don't do Pienza justice.
Not sure that it's a destination in itself, but certainly if you're in the area it's worth taking a break from the drive and spending a couple of hours visiting this lovely town.
The cobblestone, pedestrian only main street was filled with shoppers who were leisurely inspecting the many kiosks and shops. It's an extremely picturesque village with a new photo opportunity seemingly around every corner. Unfortunately our camera was acting up so we couldn't get some of the photos we wanted, and the few we took don't do Pienza justice.
Not sure that it's a destination in itself, but certainly if you're in the area it's worth taking a break from the drive and spending a couple of hours visiting this lovely town.
Written February 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas R
Atlanta223 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
Pienza is small, but well worth the visit and the tiny Piazza Pio has seemed almost a magical place. My wife and I have visited Pienza three of four times and we have been amazed to see the piazza transformed as if by magic. On one visit, the locals had laid out and created a garden that was as beautiful as any I've ever seen. Then, the next visit . . . the garden was gone. Aside from the piazza, many of the walls and streets of Pienza are decorated with flowers. The is a great place for picture taking.
If you walk long the edge of the piazza and beside the church, you will descover a walkway that provides a view out over Tuscany that will be as beautiful as anything you will find anywhere in Italy. Make sure you have your camera with you.
Cheese tasting! Pienza is famous not only for its flowers, views, and architectures but also for the excellent sheep's milk cheese, or more correctly, ewes' milk cheese, pecorino and pecorino romano, produced in and around the city.
I hope you enjoy this small town in Tuscany as much as we have.
If you walk long the edge of the piazza and beside the church, you will descover a walkway that provides a view out over Tuscany that will be as beautiful as anything you will find anywhere in Italy. Make sure you have your camera with you.
Cheese tasting! Pienza is famous not only for its flowers, views, and architectures but also for the excellent sheep's milk cheese, or more correctly, ewes' milk cheese, pecorino and pecorino romano, produced in and around the city.
I hope you enjoy this small town in Tuscany as much as we have.
Written November 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mvanroy
Merelbeke, Belgium754 contributions
Jul 2022
In the beautiful Roman town Pienza, typical for the area, the Square Piazza Pio II is the center of attraction. With the fountain, the cathedral and the city hall, there are some landmarks to enjoy but if you go a bit further, you will find a spectacular view over the surrounding area and valley.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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