Best of European Union » heart of Tuscany http://www.best-of-european-union.eu Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Pienza – the model of the Renaissance town in the heart of Tuscany, Italy http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2010/10/23/pienza-the-model-of-the-renaissance-town-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/ http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2010/10/23/pienza-the-model-of-the-renaissance-town-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/#comments Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:03:30 +0000 Julius http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/?p=1425 Pienza is a lovely town, whose small chamber center had been almost totally rebuilt by Pope Pius II. in 15th century. In 1405 in Corsignanu, as Pienza was called at that time, was born Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini. He later became a leading humanist and philosopher. In 1458 he became pope Pius II, and a year […]

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]]> Pienza is a lovely town, whose small chamber center had been almost totally rebuilt by Pope Pius II. in 15th century. In 1405 in Corsignanu, as Pienza was called at that time, was born Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini. He later became a leading humanist and philosopher. In 1458 he became pope Pius II, and a year later he decided to change the face and the name of his birthplace.

Florentine architect and sculptor Bernardo Rossellino, was assigned to a cathedral project, the papal palace and town hall (all buildings have been completed within three years from 1459 to 1462). Grandiose plan – to build the model of the Renaissance city has never been realized. Some ideas of how the town could looks, you can see at Palazzo Piccolomini, the former papal palace which served until 1968.

You can see there for example Pius bedroom and library. The main highlight is a stunning panorama, which opens to visitors from the balcony and the arcaded courtyard in the back of the palace.

A pleasant walk, and another amazing spectacle you can enjoy by the village walls.

Pienza is surrounded by nature and it is home to 3,000 inhabitants. It is famous for its cheese production, which you can see everywhere in the town. The cheeses are aged here for several years, stored in underground and are made with different flavors.


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]]> http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2010/10/23/pienza-the-model-of-the-renaissance-town-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/feed/ 0 Siena – medieval traditions in the heart of Tuscany | Italy http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2010/10/02/siena-medieval-traditions-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/ http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2010/10/02/siena-medieval-traditions-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/#comments Sat, 02 Oct 2010 07:58:10 +0000 Julius http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/?p=1419 Siena is the best preserved medieval city in Italy, surrounded with the ancient walls. It is located in the heart of Tuscany and has 55k inhabitants. It is said that the people of Siena speak the most clean Italian in Italy, and Italian language students often go there to learn the correct pronunciation. The magical […]

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]]> Siena is the best preserved medieval city in Italy, surrounded with the ancient walls. It is located in the heart of Tuscany and has 55k inhabitants. It is said that the people of Siena speak the most clean Italian in Italy, and Italian language students often go there to learn the correct pronunciation. The magical and beautiful Siena, culturally rich Tuscan town, is world famous for its medieval and Renaissance architecture, a stunning view of the landscape and famously fantastic cuisine, wine and Palio di Siena – horse race festival.

The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation’s most visited tourist destination, especially during Palio di Siena. The best known place is Piazza del Campo.

Siena, together with the cities of Pisa and Florence, creates triangle of the most visited cities in Tuscany. There are lots of travel agencies that organise trips for tourists to those three cities. The best option how to get there is probably via plane to airport Galileo Galilei in Pisa.

What to see in Siena

  • The Piazza del Campo, piazza at the centre of the city, where Palio di Siena takes place twice a year
  • The Palazzo Pubblico, Siena’s City Hall with Torre di Mangia tower, from whose top you can see a beautiful panorama of the countryside of Siena.
  • The Duomo, Siena’s magnificent black and white Italian Romanesque cathedral including the Libreria Piccolomini, Baptistery, and an attached Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
  • The Pinacoteca, full of Sienese painting from the city’s Medieval heyday.
  • The Palazzo Salimbeni, built in 1472, is the world headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the major banking corporation which has a hand in much of the economic and cultural life of the city.
  • The house where St. Catherine of Siena was born is just a few blocks from the duomo. This 14th century mystic is one of the principal patron saints of Italy.


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