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

This itinerary starts and ends at Via Mario Mencatelli in Pienza. In Via Mario Mencattelli there is always good parking, and at the end of the street there is also a square for paid parking. On the same Via Mario Mencattelli, you will find a good restaurant, La Chiocciola.

Pienza, the ideal city

Pienza was rebuilt from a village called Corsignano, which was the birthplace of Enea Silvio Piccolomini. 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]

Start

We start this itinerary with a brief exploration of the alleys of Pienza, starting at Largo Roma, entering this beautiful village through the Via dell'Apertura.
Walk into the Via dell'Apertura, and almost immediately turn left into Via Case Nuove, entering a pleasant square. There is a good ice cream shop, Buon Gusto Gelateria (Via delle Case Nuove, 26), and at number 7 Caffè della Volpe.
Enjoy this brief passeggiata through the ideal city. The Via Case Nuove takes you to the central street of Pienza, the Corso il Rossellino. The Corso leads to the trapezoidal main square Piazza Pio II, a grand and elegant square, surrounded by the city hall, with its bell tower, the Palazzo Piccolomini, Palazzo Borgia and the Duomo.

The track leads you to the Porta al Prato, following the directions for the Pieve di Corsignano on the Piazza Dante Alighieri, Viale Santa Catarina and Via del Fonte. A 11-min walk will bring you to the Pieve di Corsignano.

Download gpx tracks here

Lenghth: 11,25 km, about 2 hours
Total climb 331 m
Total descent 328 m

You can also consider expanding your walk to a longer itinerary, the Anello Pienza - Cappella Vitaleta - Spedaletto (22 kms). We walked more or less the same track years ago, download gpx tracks here for an nice variation (espaccially the exploration of Pienza).

 

From here, turn left following the directions for Podere Terralippe. Continuing to the Vitaleta Chapel and further on to Bagno Vignoni this itinerary offers some wonderful views over the valleys. The scenery of the Val d’Orcia changes according to the season, ranging from the bright green meadows of spring to the golden wheat fields of summer, but the region's delectable essence will always linger with you long after you've departed.

And finally, do not leave Pienza without a glass of wine or an aperitif at Paolo's bar Il Casello'on Via Il Casello (the street to the left of the Duomo). Here the four famous alleys of Pienza, via dell'Amore, via del Bacio, via del Bula and via della Fortuna come together. A great spot with uninterrupted views of the Val d'Orcia and frequented by locals and young lovers.

Returning to the parking, you walk again alog the Largo Roma, were the Consorzio Agrario di Siena could be a final stop for shopping. Here you will find a nice and affordable selection of regional products. Not only pecorino cheese, but also meats, truffles, mushrooms, olive oil, wine and so on.

Cipressi nella Val d'Orcia. La storia di Cyparissus nella Metamorfosi di Ovidio