Pienza Things to Do

David
MICHELANGELO Buonarroti (1475-1564)
1504 - Marble, height 434 cm
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

Perhaps the most famous statue of a male in the world today is the statue of David by Michelangelo. He didn't create a winner, but the representation of David portrays youth. Philosophic reports even want to convince us of erotic youth and female qualities of the statue ... a monument in these days and, a must to visit.

Visiting Galleria dell'Accademia
The museum is open from 8:15 am - 6:50 pm. Tuesday to Sunday.
Closed on Mondays and on certain holidays.
Tickets cost 6.50 Euro.

The Palazzo Piccolomini is right next to the Duomo. The Palazzo was the home of Pope Pius II and his decendants (up till 1968). The palazzo was designed by Rossellino and modeled after the Palazzo Rucellai in Florence.

The only part of the palazzo we were able to see were the bedroom of Pope Pius II and his library. The palazzo has big arched windows that bring tons of sun light streaming through the interior. Their is an interior courtyard as well as a small formal garden.

We visited the Duomo with Liz's Aunt and Uncle. Her Aunt is a fan of Rossellino who was the architect. The Duomo is is a bad state of decay with lots of cracks on the walls and floors but the artwork is still beautiful. The stained glass windows are very nice. The stained glass was commisioned by Pope Pius II, he wanted the stained glass to be large and emcompass a majority of the duomo. The Duomo is often refered to as the domus vitrea or house of glass.

See some phantastic monuments in Pienza town, with great success preserved from legendary medieval and renaissance past. One is the Pace Pie 2, part of the fabulous Piazza Duomo with the beautiful altar, special tributed to its architect and sculptor Rossellino, and watch the baptisimal front.

The interior of the Duomo is a gorgeous decoration, simply but richly, with beautiful paintings from the Sienese school. Originated from 1459 and finished in a record 3 years' time, the facade is divided into three parts. Daily 8:30-1 and 2:30-7.

See 5 paintings by the most famous Sienese painters:

* Giovanni di Paolo: Madonna with child and Saints.
* Matteo di Giovanni: Madonna on the throne with child and Saints.
* Lorenzo di Pietro (called Vecchietta): Assumption.
* Sano di Pietro: Madonna with child and Saints.
* Matteo di Giovanni: Madonna on the throne with child and Saints.

Take a little meditation inside the Piazza Duomo ... it is so peacefull

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Coming by car to Pienza is a great experience. From Siena I can suggest to follow the SS2 (Cassia) untill San Quirico D'Orcia. Here you can find the sign Pienza and from there you drive along a scenic route. Enjoy this fantastic Tuscanian landscape!!!

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The church of St. Francis was built at the end of the twelfth century. The facade is very simple and it has got only a door with oculo. The inside preserve rests of frescos of the thirteenth century, while the decorations of the apse are attirbuited to Cristoforo di Bindaccio.

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The Corso Rossellino is the thorn of the Medieval suburb that connect the two principal gateway of the town. Along its sides you can see the beautiful Palazzo Ammannati built in the fourteenth century for the cardinal Giacomo Ammannati. Another interesting building is the one belonged to Salomone Piccolomini with to the first floor has got gothic bifore and graffiti.

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The visit of the palace is very interesting. During the visit you arrive to the gallery of the first floor. Here you can see a beautiful ceiling chests suffito and dorich columnes. From here you can see a beautiful panorama over the Val D'Orcia and, if the sky is clear, you can see the fortress of Radicofani, the monte Cetona and the Monte Amiata.