Pienza… Pienza is in Tuscany – to be precise, it’s in the Val d’Orcia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The landscape is stunningly beautiful, and in any season I love to drive through it…John loves to cycle.
Pienza was created as an ideal Renaissance city by the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini who later became Pope Pius II. He was rich and he was influential, and this enabled him to create his idea of Utopia…and I must say, for me, wandering round the little streets of Pienza comes close to a perfect afternoon out. Over the years I’ve been in the museums and the churches, browsed the elegant shops, bought cheese and wine, eaten gelato while looking down on the Val d’Orcia, had morning coffee, lunch, supper and sat with s glass of wine in the evening… it’s just the perfect place to simply “be”, and whatever my mood, whatever the season, or the weather, I find Pienza just as beautiful, just as enjoyable.
Pienza is famous for its Pecorino cheese – there are beautiful sops selling all different varieties, alongside salamis, truffles, herbs and spices… The Pecorino di Pienza is made from sheep’s milk, and is renowned the world over. If you’re interested in reading more about the cheese, this is a great article: https://tuscanwanders.com/pecorino-pienza-cheese
On our most recent visit, a few days ago, we went in a wine bar we haven’t ben in before, and had Pecorino di Pienza on toast – mine with acacia honey, John’s with prosciutto – served with a delicious glass of Nobile di Montepulciano. Such a simple lunch, but it was just perfect!
