Museum
Historic Residence
Spaces & Places
Pienza and Monticchiello
The ideal Renaissance town and the countryside of the Val d'Orcia, both UNESCO World Heritage.
Val d'Orcia · Renaissance architecture, UNESCO landscape
- km in all
- 96
- of driving
- 1 h 50
- the whole day, stops included
- 4 h 30
- stops
- 2
Pienza is the best-known town in the Val d'Orcia. Monticchiello, 10 km away, is a small village you can walk across in a few minutes, from one gate to the other, and the road there is part of the pleasure.
The day
Driving times are Google Maps' without traffic; the stops are the ones we suggest. Leave around 9 and you will be back in the early afternoon.
Leave the Grancia
40 min by car · 39 km
Pienzasuggested stop about 1 h 15
15 min by car · 10 km
Monticchiellosuggested stop about 45 min
Break for a coffee or a tastingabout 45 min
55 min by car · 46 km
Back at the Grancia
The stops
from La Grancia · 39 km · about 40 min
Pienza
UNESCO, historic centre since 1996UNESCO, Val d'Orcia since 2004
Until the mid-15th century it was a village called Corsignano. Enea Silvio Piccolomini, born here in 1405 and later Pope Pius II, had it rebuilt by the architect Bernardo Rossellino as an ideal town: the square, the cathedral and his family's palace were designed together. The historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, the Val d'Orcia around it since 2004. Before you leave, step out onto the viewpoint over the valley.
On foot in Pienza
- Piazza Pio II
- the cathedral (Duomo)
- Palazzo Piccolomini
- the viewpoint over the Val d'Orcia
Piazza Pio II 
The cathedral (Duomo) 
Palazzo Piccolomini 
The viewpoint over the Val d'Orcia
from Pienza · 10 km · about 15 min
Monticchiello
UNESCO, Val d'Orcia since 2004
A hamlet of Pienza at about 500 metres above sea level: a medieval village with the parish church of Saints Leonard and Christopher and the Cassero tower, which you admire from outside. The road from Pienza to Monticchiello runs through the Val d'Orcia countryside and is lovely driven slowly.
- the parish church of Saints Leonard and Christopher
- the village streets
- the view over the valley
The parish church of Saints Leonard and Christopher
from Monticchiello · 46 km · about 55 min
Back to the Grancia
From Monticchiello you are back at the Grancia in about an hour.
Why choose it
In Pienza the square, the cathedral and the Piccolomini palace are a few steps apart, and the viewpoint looks out over the Val d'Orcia. Monticchiello is small and quiet, a village to walk without hurrying.
Where to stop
In Pienza you will find car parks just outside the centre, along Viale di Circonvallazione.
Before heading back you can stop for a coffee or a tasting. If you enjoy photography, we suggest giving the viewpoints a little more time and the table a little less.
Distances and times are Google Maps' without traffic and are approximate: traffic, parking and stops add to them.
FAQ
How far is Pienza from the Grancia?
About 39 km by car, around fifty minutes through the countryside.
Is Pienza a UNESCO site?
Yes, its historic centre since 1996. The Val d'Orcia around it has been one since 2004.
Set off from the Grancia and come back to it
Four Junior Suites in the old town of Serre di Rapolano: in the evening you come back to the same place, with no need to repack.
Check availability- Photo: opening photo · Raffaele pagani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Pienza · Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Pienza, Piazza Pio II · Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Pienza, the cathedral (Duomo) · Andrea Bertozzi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Pienza, Palazzo Piccolomini · Monica Rondoni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Pienza, the viewpoint over the Val d'Orcia · Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Monticchiello · pug girl, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Monticchiello, the parish church of Saints Leonard and Christopher · LigaDue, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Spedaletto castle · Assianir, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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