Historic Centre of Pienza – Gladiator Road – Val d'Orcia loop from Pienza

Hiking trails & Routes

Historic Centre of Pienza – Gladiator Road – Val d'Orcia loop from Pienza

Moderate

4.8

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343

hikers

Historic Centre of Pienza – Gladiator Road – Val d'Orcia loop from Pienza

04:37

15.8km

440m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 1, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

844 m

Historic Centre of Pienza

Highlight • Historical Site

Pienza is a small jewel of the Val d'Orcia, known as the city of Pope Pius II, aka Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who was born here in 1405. Pius II, once he became Pope, wanted to transform his humble hometown, Corsignano, in an urban-architectural treasure.
He thus entrusted the total renovation of the village to the architect Bernardo Rossellino and the humanist Leon Battisti Alberti, who in just four years, from 1459 to 1462, defined the harmonious and typically fifteenth-century appearance of what would have been Pienza today.
Thus was born that is now known as the ideal city of author: "born from a thought of love and a dream of beauty", as Giovanni Pascoli wrote.
Due to its peculiar characteristics in 1996, together with the whole Val d’Orcia, Pienza was recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Walking through the historic center, in Piazza Pio II, a visit to the Duomo, the Cathedral of the Assumption, is a must. Inside it houses important and remarkable paintings by the most renowned artists of the time, while the beautiful octagonal bell tower rises above the ancient crypt.

In front of the Cathedral you can see the Palazzo Comunale, a historic building dating back to the mid-1400s with its main feature: the large loggia on the facade. Also in the main square, the imposing Museo-Palazzo Piccolomini stands out with its hanging garden from which you can admire a truly unique panorama over the entire Val d'Orcia, from Montalcino to Monte Amiata. To complete the closure of the central square, you can visit the Palazzo Borgia, seat of the Diocesan Museum of Pienza.

Inside the former San Carlo conservatory, there is now the Archaeological Museum of Pienza, a building of medieval origin, with archaeological and Etruscan collections on display and an exhibition itinerary that documents the urban and architectural history of the Pienza area.

A few steps from the historic center, a short walk takes you to the Pieve di Corsignano: a Romanesque church with three naves, whose origins date back to the 7th century.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

962 m

View of the Val d'Orcia

Highlight • Viewpoint

Pretty here, very pretty

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Tip by

2.01 km

Gladiator Filming Location View, Val d'Orcia

Highlight • Viewpoint

This area of Val d'Orcia is one of the most famous, made famous by the filming of Ridley Scott's movie Gladiator.

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2.39 km

Gladiator Road – Val d'Orcia

Highlight • Trail

valdorcia between s. Quirico and pienza where they shot some scenes of the film the gladuator

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8.91 km

Cypress Avenue Near San Quirico d'Orcia

Highlight • Trail

10.6 km

Madonna di Vitaleta Chapel

Highlight • Religious Site

2021 Unfortunately big construction site with noise and dusty construction vehicles :-( But interesting art :-)

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11.1 km

CAPPELLA DELLA MADONNA DI VITALETA

Viewpoint

14.3 km

View of the Tuscan Hills

Highlight • Viewpoint

Pretty here, very pretty

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14.8 km

Church of Santa Caterina

Highlight • Religious Site

The Panomara is indescribably beautiful - and essential for fans of the movie Gladiator (this is where Maximus meets his family again after his death...).
The small church of Santa Caterina is also worth a visit. You are immediately surrounded by silence and the small votive offerings around the Madonna fresco testify to deep popular piety. Time to pause for a moment and think about your loved ones at home...

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Tip by

15.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.76 km

4.29 km

751 m

533 m

443 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.55 km

4.37 km

1.80 km

685 m

391 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (490 m)

Lowest point (280 m)

Weather

Sunday 1 November

14°C

6°C

28 %

Additional weather tips

Be ready for wind and tricky conditions.

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

March 15, 2024,Anello San Quirico d'Orcia - Pienza

Leave the car near San Quirico d'Orcia and follow the path towards the Vitaleta Chapel, then proceed towards Pienza. After the visit you return to the starting point following an alternative path to the outward one, completing the ring.

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March 7, 2023,Runde durch das Val d'Orcia: Pienza- Quirico d'Orcia

Panorama tour like in a picture book. The fantastic hilly landscape, in the background the Amiata massif as well as Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia make this circular hike a highlight.

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June 3, 2023,San Quirico d'Orcia nach Pienza

Pleasure tour from San Quirico through Val d'Orcia to Pienza. After a delicious lunch, we quickly returned via the Capella di Vitaleta, as it was unclear whether there would still be thunderstorms.
In Quirico, komoot got out again on the last km.
Nevertheless, a fantastically beautiful tour with magnificent views 🤗

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September 15, 2024,Von San Quirico d'Orcia nach Pienza und zurück

Another hike through Tuscany, past vineyards, olive groves and hilly landscapes. We followed in the footsteps of the gladiator. We passed two sets from the film "The Gladiator". Those were my husband's highlights. 😉 Otherwise a lovely round trip uphill and downhill in the most beautiful sunshine. And the town of Pienza is definitely worth a trip or hike.

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