An Excursion to Pienza and Bagno Vignoni

Bagno Vignoni

For our cultural excursion the third week of school, we “went by auto” through lush green countryside and rolling hills until we reached a small village seated atop a hill overlooking the scenic Val d’Orca.

 

     Europeans probably wonder about American's
     fascination with their outdoor clotheslines!

Pienza, originally called Corsignano is the birthplace of Enea Piccolomini (1405), who later became Pope Pius II. After becoming Pope, he had the entire village torn down and rebuilt as a model city typifying classical and philosophical thought of the Renaissance. Similar to early paintings, the positioning of the buildings, which are not symmetrically positioned around the main Piazza, portrayed a message. The cathedral was positioned in such a way as to give the impression that God is reachable and coming toward the people. The civic build is set facing the church, yet shifted slightly to the side so that the two do not line up – perhaps representing the difference in God’s authority or ways and man’s. The new village was laid out artistically with the streets curving rather than in a grid. Unique to this village is the fact that it was the first whose design was pre-planned as opposed to being built atop or alongside the old. 

Left to Right: Tracy, Greg, Julie, Camille, Me, Annette by the Pienza city wall

Mauro encouraged us that Italians love to talk, so we need to give them the chance to do so. Thus as we wandered the town we attempted to strike up conversation with a few locals. We came across two women sitting on stools overlooking the valley beyond the city wall, one was crocheting what we later learned was to become a table cloth. We took turns asking her simple questions such as, “What are you making?” “How long have you lived here”

Today, among other things, Pienza is known for its delicious cheese. We purchased cheese, meats and wine to enjoy later for our aperitivo at the nearby village of Bagno Vignoni (see photo above). This tiny village, also seated atop a hill with scenic views, has a famous thermal bath in the town center. While the center location is no longer used, there are still hot springs in use close by. It was a windy day and as the sun set, many of us wished to slip into that warm water!