Circular walk between Pienza and the Cappella di Vitaleta, along the famous Gladiator road

Map Anello Pienza - Capella di Vitaletal | Enlarge map | Alltrails map

This itinerary starts and ends at the Piazza Dante Alighieri, or at the Porta al Prato in Pienza. Pienza was rebuilt from a village called Corsignano, which was the birthplace of Enea Silvio Piccolomini. You can visit this beautiful small renaissance town before or after your walk.

Start

Just inside Porta al Prato, the main street or Corso leads you to Pienza's central square the Piazza Pio II. Enjoy this brief passeggiata through the ideal city. It was in this Tuscan town that Renaissance town-planning concepts were first put into practice after Pope Pius II decided, in 1459, to transform the look of his birthplace Corsignano. This new vision of urban space was realized in the superb square known as Piazza Pio II and the buildings around it: the Piccolomini Palace, the Borgia Palace and the cathedral with its pure Renaissance exterior and an interior in the late Gothic style of south German churches.[2]

Walk along some evocative streets and alleys in Pienza [2]

Take the street left of the Duomo, and walk through the Porta al Santo, 43°4'34"N   11°40'46"E, and turn right onto Via di Circonvallazione. A 11-min walk will bring you to the Pieve di Corsignano.
We leave the asphalt road here and follow the gravel surfaced path on the left that is signposted to the Agriturismo Terrapille (the sign is sometimes hidden by a huge hybrid fig tree). Soon you walk on the famous Gladiator road were Ridley Scott filmed some of the iconic scenes of the film, a nature theater functioning as the idyllic contrast to war and, literally, as paradise.
Continuing down the valley, after 6 km you will reach the Capella di Vitaleta and the adjacent farmhouse.

On the Via Santa Caterina, take a final stop at the Unesco World Heritage sign and marvel at the wonderful panorama that overlooks the trail and Monte Amiata.

Download gpx tracks here

There is a similar hike, with a defferent section in Pienza, Pienza, along the Gladiator road to the Vitaleta Chapel (11,25 km). You can also consider expanding your walk to a longer itinerary, the Anello Pienza - Cappella Vitaleta - Spedaletto (22 km).

 

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