A culinary culture that enhances every ingredient in the wonderful town of Pienza
Pienza is a prime example of Renaissance architecture, and one of Italy’s most beautiful historic towns, designated a s UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. Modeled on the concept of an “Ideal City,” it was entirely redesigned in the late 15th century by the architect Rossellino, a pupil of Leon Battista Alberti, commissioned by Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who later became Pope Pius II and chose Pienza as his residence. Over the centuries, Pienza has remained remarkably intact, preserving the beauty that made it a globally renowned artistic destination.
In this extraordinary setting lies the restaurant La Terrazza del Chiostro, situated next to the main square in the former 15th-century monastery of San Francesco. Here Pope Piccolomini celebrated his first mass, and throughout history, the monastery has witnessed the town’s diverse fortunes. In recent times, the monastery served as an archdiocesan seminary attached to the Church of San Francesco, later decommissioned in the 1950s and subsequently becoming an ACLI club in the 1980s. Eventually, management of the premises was entrusted to private hands, leading to the establishment of the restaurant and the Relais Il Chiostro.
During this last decade, some interior modifications have been made, incorporating modern decorative elements and chromatic details while preserving the original structure intact. The bronze color of the walls echoes the earth tones of Siena, Bonaldo’s plexiglass chairs lighten the atmosphere and harmoniously contrast with wood and steel. Wooden portals (one mounted on a wall, the other repurposed into a table with a glass top) hail from the Amalfi Coast, specifically Maiori.
The garden in front of La Terrazza del Chiostro, which is furnished with tables and chairs during summer and boasts a cocktail bar, was once the friars’ vegetable garden and is Pienza’s second rooftop garden, alongside the of the Palazzo dei Papi. Its panoramic view over the Val d’Orcia, with Mount Amiata and the hills of Montalcino in the background, makes it unique and enhances the restaurant’s beauty.
The new era of La Terrazza del Chiostro began with the arrival of the Dell’Isola brothers, Mattia and Simone, and Chef Massimiliano Ingino, who brought with them a decade of experience from high-end dining environments to enhance “La Terrazza.”
