Piazza Pio II is the elegant main square of Pienza, a Renaissance gem in Tuscany. It was commissioned by Pope Pius II, who was born in Pienza (then called Corsignano), and redesigned in the 15th century by architect Bernardo Rossellino. The square is framed by harmonious Renaissance buildings, including the Cathedral (Duomo), the Palazzo Piccolomini, and the town hall. Its trapezoidal shape and symmetry reflect the ideals of Renaissance urban planning. Piazza Pio II offers a timeless and peaceful atmosphere, with views that open out toward the Val d’Orcia countryside.

May 2025. Nice little plaza anchored by Pienza Cathedral (whose Google maps entry seems to be gone)

This is a gorgeous plaza that has plenty of space, fitting perfectly with a small town like Pienza. We were lucky enough to visit during the town's cheese weekend, which had many activities for both children and adults. Located right in front of the main cathedral, it's definitely one of Pienza's most notable landmarks.

Great atmosphere with a nice coffee shop and the crypt with a small underground labyrinth which is very cool for kids to explore. They had a good time.

Beautiful palace, interesting visit on the history of Pienza.

Ah, Piazza Pio II—where history whispers sweetly to you, but politely, like a well-mannered ghost. Strolling through this charming square feels like stepping into a Renaissance painting… if that painting included a few strategically placed gelato stands and tourists trying to take the perfect selfie. The architecture is stunning—so stunning that you might forget to check your phone (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us). The cathedral and surrounding buildings are like the wise elders of the town, silently judging your modern life choices—but in a friendly, “you’re welcome to join us” kind of way.

Amazing place and a must visit in valdorcia

When’s the last time you prayed in a church that was built around 1000 AD? When’s the last time you prayed? A hidden gem among churches in Tuscany! Don’t be shy ☺️ look around and be present to what the moment will be 🙏

A nice church but just a normal one. You can park by here to walk to gladiators field area. Free parking.

Very cute little church, with the bell-tower over 1000 yrs old, & side bldg over 800 yrs old.(in great shape)

Historic chapel overlooking the land where gladiator was filmed! Worth the stop on a tuscan road trip

Must stop if you're driving close by, lots of history and gives a real feel for medieval Tuscany.

I'm crazy about the icon of landscape! It is Pienza and Val D'orcia.

READ: If you come here as guide to park to visit the Galadiator shooting spot. As of July 2023 is closed for renovation. When we came here, we parked outside, along the highway. And walked to enter the street, as there are also indication of no entry. When you see the side of the church, just follow the rough road then you’ll see the pathways, obviously created by people coming to see the spot, just follow that trail and you’ll the cypress and the shooting spot of the gladiator.

(Translated by Google) Palazzo Piccolomini is undoubtedly one of Pienza's most fascinating attractions. Built in the 15th century by order of Pope Pius II, it represents one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Italy. The interior preserves period furnishings, tapestries, portraits, and rooms that recount the noble life of the past. But what is most striking is the loggia and the hanging garden overlooking the Val d'Orcia: a breathtaking, seemingly endless panorama. From up there, you can admire the Tuscan countryside in all its gentle beauty, with hills, cypress trees, and postcard-perfect farmhouses. The tour is well-organized, with clear explanations and courteous staff. It's both a cultural and visual experience, combining history and nature. I recommend taking your time to soak up the Renaissance atmosphere and enjoy the view, perhaps after visiting the nearby Cathedral. A must-see for anyone visiting Pienza. (Original) Palazzo Piccolomini è senza dubbio una delle attrazioni più affascinanti di Pienza. Costruito nel Quattrocento per volere di Papa Pio II, rappresenta uno dei migliori esempi di architettura rinascimentale in Italia. L’interno conserva arredi d’epoca, arazzi, ritratti e ambienti che raccontano la vita nobile di un tempo, ma ciò che colpisce di più è la loggia e il giardino pensile affacciato sulla Val d’Orcia: un panorama mozzafiato che sembra infinito. Da lassù si può ammirare la campagna toscana in tutta la sua dolcezza, con colline, cipressi e casali che paiono usciti da una cartolina. La visita è ben organizzata, con spiegazioni chiare e personale cortese. È un’esperienza culturale e visiva insieme, che unisce storia e natura. Consiglio di andarci con calma, per respirare l’atmosfera del Rinascimento e godersi la vista, magari dopo aver visitato la Cattedrale proprio accanto. Un gioiello imperdibile per chi visita Pienza.

(Translated by Google) Former papal residence. Untouched and fully furnished. You can visit the first floor with 13 truly beautifully furnished rooms and the adjoining garden. Guided tours with audio guides are available. Admission (in October 25) is €7. It's truly worth a visit for those interested in architecture and interior design. However, it loses one star because photography is not permitted. (Original) Ehemaliger Wohnsitz eines Pabstes. Unverbaut und voll ausgestattet. Zu sehen gibt es die erste Etage mit 13 wirklich schön eingerichteten Räumen sowie den dazugehörigen Garten. Geführte Touren mit Audioguide. Eintritt (im Oktober 25) für 7 €. Ist wirklich sehr sehenswert für diejenigen, die sich für Architektur und Inneneinrichtung interessieren. Einen Stern Abzug gibt es aber, dafür das Fotografieren nicht gestattet ist.

Unbelievable views of the surrounding Tuscan fields in Pienza. Phenomenal for sunset walks. When in Pienza, don’t miss it.

Great views

The best view for Val d'Orcia! Highly recommended to the sunset, is breathtaking.

Great view of the green grass ocean

a beautiful view like a frame from the movie Gladiator

One of the best views of Val D’orcia

Astonishing

It's not the biggest cathedral in Italy, but it's a perfect fit for a small town like Pienza. It feels huge and calming inside, and is very well maintained. From afar, the cathedral's bell tower is a definite landmark. There isn't a lot to see, but I truly appreciate the soothing calmness this space provides, a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of town.

Heart of the town. Peaceful. Consider taking a walk on the corridor starting behind the church. Beautiful view of the Tuscany fields.

Imagine erecting a small perfect renaissance city in only a few years so you can have asummer home. Pope Pius II obviously felt it important to his time as Peter of our church and a veneration to God 🙏♥️ incredible works by Bernardo Rossellino for a walk into our past and our history

Really nice historical place. Quiet and free of tourists in the morning. Beautiful views from the walls.

Definitely a great place to visit, nit a big one but great fit for the town of Pienza

Beautiful church. Free entry.

Just another Italian church.

The owner was incredibly welcoming, and the food was absolutely delicious. The warm bread served with duck liver sauce was a rare and pleasant surprise – it’s not often you find freshly toasted bread like this in Italian restaurants, where it’s usually served cold. Highly recommend this place for both the atmosphere and the quality!

This small yet very popular local spot offers a limited menu of rustic, high-quality dishes. The food is authentic and well-prepared, and the service is friendly and efficient. A great choice if you’re after a genuine local dining experience.

I recently dined at a lovely traditional Italian restaurant in Pienza, and I was thoroughly impressed! While they don’t offer pasta, it’s a fantastic place to experience authentic Tuscan cuisine. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the food quality was excellent. Plus, they speak English, which made ordering a breeze. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking to savor the flavors of Tuscany!

Local Tuscan cuisine. We called on a Friday evening 5pm and were very lucky to get a last-minute reservation that same evening (saw many groups tried to walk-in but couldn't get a table, reservation is highly recommended) The boss might sound a little loud/fierce at first, but he’s actually very kind and welcoming. He recommended dishes for us, every choice turned out to be excellent. Our favourites: pork liver & Crostino with chicken liver. The staff were friendly and thoughtful, treated us to a “magic coffee” and a local Pienza dessert. The sweetest touch came at the end: the owner gifted us a postcard with a photo of the very spot where we had been sitting. Such a thoughtful gesture that made the experience truly memorable. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Pienza!

A small and charming restaurant with a lot of personality. The menu is tiny, but that’s exactly what makes it special — every dish feels carefully chosen and full of character. The flavors are a refreshing surprise, a little different from what you’d expect, in the best possible way. The bean soup is absolutely outstanding — rich, hearty, and deeply satisfying. The lardo simply melts in your mouth, pure comfort and indulgence. And the wine? It goes down almost too easily. Sette e Vino is one of those rare places where simplicity meets genuine culinary soul. Definitely worth a visit.

I had an absolutely lovely evening here with my fiancè. The owner was as gentle as there can be, with a personality beautiful. Everything was good. We will come back. Please do go eat here.

Great experience! The owner is charming, sweet and funny and will help you choose the perfect combination of dishes in a way that suits you! We got a lot of free things to try and generally it’s high quality but very cheap! We felt welcome and in good hands and from a trip of 3 weeks in Tuscany this was the best and cheapest restaurant visit! Remember to reserve a table and don’t be nervous about them not serving pasta and pizza - you’ll get the true experience of the Tuscany kitchen!

I've been all over the world. All over Italy and this is perhaps my top 3 pasta locations in the world! What an amazing and unique meal. Best truffle past thus far. Absolutely delicious. Amazing friendly staff. Cute location and La Nona's daily venues are simply unique and exquisite! Without a doubt this will be your best meal while at Piensa! Highly recommend it!

Latte di Luna is a fantastic spot for lunch in Pienza. We started with Aperol spritz and shared a bruschetta, then I had the truffle pasta - simple, authentic, and absolutely delicious. Truffles from this region of Italy are the gold standard, and this dish was no exception. The staff were warm and friendly, and the location is perfect just off Corso Rossellino, near Via dell’Amore and Via del Casello, where you can enjoy some of the most beautiful views in Pienza. A relaxed, welcoming place that captures the charm of Tuscan dining. Highly recommend.

This is a place I keep returning to whenever I’m in the area and I recommend it for everyone to eat here at least once. Food is always amazing. It’s a family run business and you can feel their hospitality and how everything is homemade. Pici is always my go to, and spicy tomato and garlic sauce is to die for. Last time we tried roast duck for the first time, and it was so delicious 🤤 Can’t wait to go there again and try new dishes! Oh and desserts, mud cake with pear, pistachio pie… you just can’t get enough!

AMAZING food. It is a simple looking place but they are good at what they are offering: Food. We found this by chance and they had my favourite pasta dish pasta olio aglio e peperoncino on the menu so I had to try it (because it is a simple dish but when it is done right, it is incredible). It was so good and tasty. Just perfect. My husband had the lasagna with truffles and he said it was brilliant. We also enjoyed their tiramisu and salad. They know what they are doing. Very simple straightforward menu. If you go here, you won't be disappointed.

Not recommend! We stopped here to eat and, being used to authentic Italian food, we were quite disappointed with what we got. We expected a different menu, but it felt more like canteen-style dishes – various types of fried meat and some pasta. As for what we ordered: the rabbit was rather dry – if I had it at home it would have been fine, but in a restaurant in Italy it just didn’t feel right. Only one type of salad, quite basic. The people were friendly and eager to help, but overall this was the cheapest yet most expensive meal we had in Italy, with very low quality for the price.

This was without doubt hands down the best lasagne I’ve ever put in my gob and I put in a few. service was excellent. These people should all take a bow, what a restaurant.

Amazing food for good prices. Portions are good sizes as well. I got a drink, main, and a side for under 30€. Very kind service and helped me practice my Italian nicely.

We didn’t stay at the hotel, but like many others ate only at the restaurant. The tuna my wife ordered was excellent, while everything else (agnolotti, zucchini flowers, burrata) were only fine, though the presentation was beautiful. Service was also fine and overall the meal wasn’t too expensive.

We have visited Pienza before, but never stayed there. Being in the town at night is a new experience and not to be missed. La Bandita is in a very central location and easy to park a car a few minutes away (for a fee). The hotel is stunning and our room was beautiful. The restaurant is also amazing and we had a wonderful meal. The owner, John Voightman, took the trouble to speak to all the dinner guests on the night we ate there. There are also several great restaurants in the town.

Came here because a friend recommended - the service was great and we had here the best pasta in Italy. Felt full and didn't ordered dessert - came back the next day to finish the job and they ware so welcoming again. Recommended this place to eat each night.

What a wonderful hotel. Before our arrival, the staff assisted us with securing dinner reservations. We were upgraded from a junior suite to a full suite, which was spacious and very comfortable. The breakfast spread was excellent, and we had dinner at the hotel one evening - highly recommended. The staff were warm and welcoming throughout our stay. As a bonus, Pienza is perfectly situated for visiting nearby towns, and the town itself is charming with plenty of great restaurants.

Had dinner here with my family. David and his team were amazing. The food, wine list and service 5 stars. It was so good we went back again. A must try if anywhere near Pienza.

Delicious lunch spot! Professional chef, open kitchen, friendly staff and great service! With plenty of vegetarian food available! Must try pesto and black truffle pasta!

We did not stay at the hotel just had dinner at the restaurant twice. Had an excellent experience both times and enjoyed a variety of items on the menu ranging from the zucchini appetizer to the burger to the gnocchi - all terrific. A little on the speedy side but worth the money.

Excellent place to have lunch or dinner during your visit to Pienza! Great selection of wines, many food offerings and a cozy setting in one of the city squares. Staff was very friendly, too.

Beautiful location in center of Pienza. Friendly staff who spoke English. Delicious pecorino cheese board. The main dishes (tagliolini and gnocchi) and desserts were decent.

Very nice restaurant in Pienza! Creative Antipasto, perfect carbonara and a very nice lamb ! Nice Selection of wines!

Spectacular food and service. The pici were so good and the cheese plate is an amazing way to sample lots of delicious pecorino. Highly recommend 🍉

I went there for a dinner and I enjoyed an amazing dinner. The flavors of the food were amazing, Italian masterpieces 🤌,the stuff was super friendly and professional, the vibes and the place were great. Totally recommend if you want to taste and experience the Italian cuisine and hospitality. Grazie mille

Christoff, the manager, is so sweet and lovely to talk to. The food is amazing and you can’t go wrong with ordering anything on the menu. All of the appetizers are so delicious and I recommend asking for a sampler of them all!! The creamed cod bruschetta is HEAVEN. We went here twice in one week because of how good it is. I recommend calling for a reservation if you are going for dinner.

Delicious food, lovely atmosphere and the kindest staff! Got great recommendations on wines and we couldn’t get enough of all the different things we ordered to eat. Until next time!

Perfect lunch place, great food, we loved the chicken pate, the parmigiana was fabulous- most intense tomato flavor I tasted ever , made with elephant garlic and long cooking❤️🔥- and the guys recommendations for local wines pairing with food just spot on! Highly recommended!

We really enjoyed our dinner here. We ordered the risotto saffron with wine essence for two. Fabulous presentation and flavors. Highly recommend this dish. The service was perfect too. The owner was very personable and bought my hubby a glass a wine for his birthday! Grazie!

Incredible experience! The pecorino selection is a must try, for sure. The zuppa di fagioli and the pasta with ragu were delicious. Friendly staff.

Good service, tasty truffle pasta, and nice atmosphere inside. We were kindly offered a drink as we had to wait outside for a table to become available.

We stumbled into this spot after sunset in Pienza and oh my goodness… best meal of our time in Italy! We got the pecorino cheese plate, the pumpkin lasagne, the bean soup and the meatballs- every single dish was 10/10. Yes, it is pricey but worth the cost in my opinion!

Party of 4, dinner time. We had our best meals so far in our travel. And depending on the establishment type, have high standards. Service was excellent We had: pecorino tasting platter, caprese, ragu pasta and carbonara pasta. All most excellent. And the wine, well the wine is always very good too! Based on our experience on that evening, don’t hesitate to try it!

Rating this the best food from all the restaurants we’ve eaten in our 18 day trip in Italy. Simply amazing. Everything we ordered was good. So I’m assuming everything will be good. Go with what the main attendant (the Italian, not the Nigerian) suggests. Amazing amazing. Will go back to Pienza just for this.