Tuscany and a little town called PIENZA

After an 8 hour flight from Chicago to Rome, Italy I was ready for something to eat.  Little did I know my first chocolate croissant & cafe' would be the first of MANY in the next few days!!

  

A two hour car ride later we find ourselves in Pienza.  

Pienza is a small town in the provine of Siena, in the Val d'Orcia in Tuscany (central Italy) between the towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino.  In 1996 UNESCO delcared the town a World Heritage Site, and in 2004 the entire valley, the Val d'Orcia, was included on the list of UNESCO's World Cultural Landscapes.  Needless to say I am in LOVE with Pienza.  

My first glimpse of Pienza.....

This charming village is widely known as the "ideal city of the Renaissance", the creation of the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini who later became Pope Pius II. Piccolomini had the money and influence to transform his birthplace village, the humble Corsignano, into what he considered the Utopian city should be, exemplifying the principles and philosophy of classical times and of the great Italian Renaissance. Thus, Pienza became the realization of a dream!

The view from our "La Bandita Townhouse" front door. 

Pienza is also the city of cacio, which means cheese! The Pecorino of Pienza is a tasty cheese made from sheep's milk, renowned worldwide and delicious, which can go from a delicate flavor to a decisive one based on how aged it is.

The town streets are full of small charming shops selling a large quantity of various types of pecorino, from fresh to aged pecorico, that you can taste together with a number of other typical local products, such as fine wines, spices, pici (handmade pasta) and so on. I recommend stopping and tasting!  Best of both worlds is mixing the pici with the cheese in the famous dish: pici con cacio e pepe. 

The luncheon in July will take place at Ciacci Piccolomini Winery, dating back to the 17th century.  This place was incredible and the wine tasting was the best to date!  

My new friends (and clients) 

This beautiful monastery is located just next door from the winery! 

My other favorite wine to date:  

We visited with Mara at her farm in Tuscany.  She is currently growing the flowers for the wedding in July.  She works on her parents farm with her 3 sister. And her father wears suspenders and no shirt while he tills the farm :) 

After a few days and late nights of enjoying the food & wine, these iced cafes really hit the spot.  John, owner of La Bandita, is American.  He requests these iced cafe' and his staff thinks he's crazy.  I was grateful for him :) 

Needless to say I cannot wait to return to Pienza in July for a magical wedding!!