Hotels in Pienza, Italy. Hotel booking in Pienza from ahotelinitaly.com

Described as the 'touchstone of Renaissance urbanism', Pienza can best be described as a 'Renaissance new town', one of the earliest examples of the late medieval Italians' fascination with urban planning. During the late 1400s, the little village of Corsignano was entirely rebuilt as a balanced and elegant construct, with four grand town buildings around a trapezoidal-shaped central piazza. Formal gardens radiate out from the 'city', beyond lies the verdant beauty of the Val d'Orcia valley. In the centuries after, the concept would be applied to larger cities, including Florence and Rome (and of course Christopher Wren had similar plans for London).

Sadly for the man playing God to this project, Pope Pius II, Pienza never really took off. We have a cathedral, the Palazzo Borgia, the Ammannati and Gonzaga Palaces and some fine churches, and we have the grand central square of Piazza Pio II. What we don't have is people - today only around 2500 live in Pienza. Zeffirelli filmed his 'Romeo and Juliet' here, and half deserted Pienza does have the feel of a film set rather. But it's unmissable for all that, and you are unlikely to be irritated by crowds. There are fine buildings to explore and there is the whole strange concept of Pienza to savour - an early attempt to create a town from nothing. Basildon it is not, and in 1996 UNESCO declared the whole city (as we must call it, for it has a cathedral) a World Heritage Site. For good measure, the stunning Val d'Orcia is on the list of UNESCO's World Cultural Landscapes. Hiking in the Val d'Orcia is a delight. Back in town, you'll find some excellent restaurants (standouts include The Falco in Piazza Dante and the Latte di Luna) and Pienza has become something of a centre for shops selling organic and local fare.

To the left you'll find a selection of Pienza hotels, just to whet your appetite. See also Pienza hotels (full listings) and our Pienza hotel map.