Visit the stunning summer residence of Pope Pius II in the splendid town of Pienza, nestled in the hills of Tuscany in the heart of the Val d’Orcia. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site, the town of Pienza is the first example of the ideal Renaissance city. Discover the Piccolomini Palace with a guided tour: the inner courtyard, the hanging garden, the fascinating rooms with their period furniture. And from the portico, enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the Val d’Orcia.
Info & Booking
Opening Hours:
October 16 to March 14:
- Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 am – 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Last admission at 4:00 pm
- Open on Mondays only when they fall on a holiday or on a day before a holiday
- Closed on all other Mondays
March 15 to October 15:
- Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 am – 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 6:30pm
- Open on Mondays when they fall on a holiday
- Closed on all other Mondays
December 25 and January 1:
- 2:00 pm – 6:00pm
- Last admission at 5:00 pm.
The Piccolomini Palace is closed:
- January 7 to February 14
- November 16 to November 30
The entrance fee includes the guided tour with audio guide to the Piccolomini Palace and the Renaissance Garden. Languages: Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian
Accessibility: accessibility also for persons with physical handicap.
Reservations must be made with a minimum of 2 days notice.
Save time in ordering! Add into your basket all the museum tickets you want, then fill the form and send the request.
Before making your eservation, please, read the Ordering Informations
IMPORTANT NOTICE: After succesfully completing a reservation, you will receive two e- mails: the copy of your order (immediately after submitting your order) and the confirmation mail (one working day after). In order to receive them, please make sure you insert your e-mail address correctly and check that your anti-spam filter or antivirus are not blocking mails from our address [email protected]. Special attention for AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net mailbox users. Vouchers will also be available, aftre one business day from the request, at the page http://www.weekendinitaly.com/get_vouchers2.php
PLEASE NOTICE: Confirmed time is not always the same time you requested; museum automatically confirms the closest available time (any time) on the same date if requested time is sold out.
Cancellations and changes:
Once a visit is confirmed, it can be changed, upon the payment of a penalty fee, according to museum availability. Confirmed visits can be canceled and refunded cost of unused tickets minus service fee. No shows can also be refunded, upon request, for cost of unused tickets minus service fee.
Before You Book
PLEASE NOTE: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive two email. The first email contains your order summary (this one you receive immediately after placing your order), the second email confirms your successful payment (one business day after placing the order). In order to receive these two emails, please make sure that you enter your email address correctly and check that antispam or antivirus filters do not block emails from our [email protected] address. Users of AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net need to pay special attention to this, please. Vouchers will also be available, one business day after the request, at your dashboard.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The time you select on the order form is your preferred time. The closest available time, which can be anytime during opening hours on the selected date, will be automatically confirmed if your preferred time is no longer available.
Piccolomini Palace in Pienza
The Palazzo Piccolomini in Pienza, summer residence of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Pope Pius II, is one of the first examples of Renaissance architecture.
The Palazzo Piccolomini was built in 1459 by famed architect Bernardo Rossellino, student of Leon Battista Alberti. Recent major restorations have brought the Palazzo Piccolomini back to its original splendor, both inside and out.
The Piccolomini family lived in the palace until 1962 when it was transferred to the Ente morale di Siena Società di Esecutori di Pie Disposizioni.
Today, the Palazzo Piccolomini forms an integral part of the historical center of Pienza, one of the best preserved in Tuscany. The architectural complex represents the realization of Pius II’s ambitious humanist project for Pius II’s “ideal city” of Pienza.
The true architectural theme of the Palazzo Piccolomini is its relationship with nature and the landscape: enjoy the extraordinary view of the Val d\'Orcia and the Monte Amiata from the rear portico. The first hanging garden of the Renaissance, enclosed by walls and with a well in the center, is central to this breathtaking panorama.
The location lends this place “a symbolic, architectural, and blissful value, one of harmonious life amidst nature” (from “Pienza, City of Pius” by Jan Pieper).
The architectural structure of the ground floor is characterized by rooms arranged around the inner courtyard. Several exhibition stations illustrate Pius II’s ambitious humanist project for the ideal city he sought to create.
The first floor is the “noble floor”, where the hallways open onto the dining room, the music room, the study, the weapons room, the library, and several bedrooms, including one used by Enea himself. Time seems to stand still here among antiques of the period, paintings, and objets d\'art.
Cancellation Policy
Once a confirmation code has been assigned to your reservation, we can refund the cost of unused tickets, also for no-shows, minus a service fee (reservation fee and online booking fee).