Home: Itineraries: Pienza and the Orcia Valley
Pienza and the Orcia Valley
Pienza
vPienza is the city of Pio II who gave it its name, thanks to its art
treasures. It is one of the most important cities of the province of Siena.
Pio II wanted to turn his Pienza (Corsignano) from a small medieval village
into a typical rinascimental papal residence. Pienza was defined “ideal
city” or “utopy city”, and it is one of the first examples of urban planning,
“the utopy of the civitas” ancient men always searched. The solemn perspective
effect of the Public square and of the surrounding palaces, the classical
style of the Dome facade, the pictorial games of light and shadows in
and outsidethe buildings, the sacred furnitures and vestments make Pienza
one of the most important examples of the rinascimentali art and culture,
admired, observed and studied all over the world.
Montepulciano
35 km far from La Casella
This Etruscan city was walled from the 8th century and then became a free
Common in the 13th century. It is called the “Pearl of the 1500” for its
many works of art left by famous rinascimental artists. Its main public
square “Piazza Grande” is sourronded by wonderful buildings such as the
Public Palace, the Cathedral and some buildings built by Vignola, Sangallo
and Peruzzi. The museum contains a great collection of sienese painters,
such as Pellicciaio and Luca di Tommé, terracotta altars by Andrea of
the Robbia.
Monticchiello
58 km far from La Casella
it is a small walled medieval village, and part of its ancient walls are
still there, with several towers and the great Rocca. It's worth visiting
the bautifuls gotic church with its wonderful painting of Piero Lorenzetti.
Sinalunga
60 km far from La Casella.
It's worth visiting the Pieve di San Peter ad Mensulas, the several churches
with their beautiful paintings of Sodoma, Signorelli and Sano di Pietro,
and – most of all – the best exaple of the XVI century art, Academia degli
Smantellati theatre.
Torrita di Siena
70 km far from La Casella.
It's worth visiting the XIV century Church of S. Flora and Lucilla with
its beautiful Romanesque facade, the Church of SS. Costanzo and Martino
and other churches with their precious works of the senese art and terracottas.
In the center of the village there is the ancient Palazzo Pretorio with
its Tower.
San Quirico d'Orcia
75 km far from La Casella.
It is a remarkable example of the structure of a medieval urban planningsince
there isa good part of the past town-walls and numerous turrets. There
are many churches and palaces of considerable historical interest, such
as Palazzo Chigi Zondadari, planned from Carl Fontanain the XVII century,
famous for its frescoes. It's worth visiting also the Collegiata of s.
Quirico and Giulitta with its magnificent Romanesque-gotic portals.
