Pienza was born of a dream of perfection.

This Renaissance city was commissioned by Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who rose to the papal throne with the name Pius II, and designed by Bernardo Rossellino between 1459 and 1462. It holds a unique position in the history of Italian art and architecture.

The piazza is facing Palazzo Piccolomini and the Cathedral is not to be missed. Reflecting on this magnificent, perfect, immaculate building, Pius II wrote: “Nobody, upon pain of excommunication, must deface the perfection of the walls. Nobody must hang other paintings. Nobody must add altars or open new chapels. Nobody must in any way damage the beauty of this church, which must remain as it is.”