Pienza

It was in this Tuscan town that Renaissance town-planning concepts were first put into practice after Pope Pius II decided, in 1459, to transform the look of his birthplace. He chose the architect Bernardo Rossellino, who applied the principles of his mentor, Leon Battista Alberti. This new vision of urban space was realized in the superb square known as Piazza Pio II and the buildings around it: the Piccolomini Palace, the Borgia Palace and the cathedral with its pure Renaissance exterior and an interior in the late Gothic style of south German churches - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/789

Pienza is the sort of town most people would have never heard of, and we certainly would never have stopped here had it not been a UNESCO site. Which would've been a shame, because it turned out to be a lovely spot. The town is a wee bit like a time capsule of 15th Century Italy, oozing ambience and charm. I would definitely recommend a visit if you're driving through!

Just like Amalfi, it's like walking through a postcard

[Flickr set here]