Pienza

Since we had the time, we opted for one more side excursion on our way home down the Via Cassia. This time we turned to the east and headed for Pienze. How many ways can I find to say, “yet another of the small, walled hilltop towns in the region”.  Well, that’s what it is. It is located between the wine producing regions of Montalcino and Montepulciano and all of the little wine shops in town stock a wide selection of both. But, the real claim to fame is the pecorino cheese. Sure, you can buy pecorino in the states. Here you have your pick of 6-8 different varieties: fresh, aged, super aged, aged in a cellar, aged in wine, finished in ashes, etc. Of course, when in Pienza …. so we bought some cheese to bring home and then wandered the city. Pienza is smaller than many of the other places we visited. The portion within the medieval walls is only some 300 yards long. They do have a very nice cathedral, a present from Pope Pius II who made Pienza his home. The Pope’s small palace beside the main church was open for viewing. One of the things you notice, especially at the western end of the city, is the juxtaposition of old and new architecture, even within the historic city walls. Much of the old city was either damaged or destroyed by allied bombing during 1944. The rebuilding was finished some 11 years later in 1955.