The transformation of the ancient village of Corsignano into the town of Pienza brought about a radical change to the internal structure of the town, which unfolded along the road axis running from the Porta al Prato to the Porta al Ciglio.
These two gates, still visible today, along with the Porta al Santo, are elements of the ancient medieval structure and are still distinctive features of the old town walls.
The pope, Pius II, had asked his faithful prelates to build themselves a dwelling near the centre of the square, where they could reside when he was staying in the town. Many of them accepted and approximately 40 public and private buildings were renovated or rebuilt.
One of the most important residences is that of Cardinal Jacopo Ammannati, a great humanist with links to the Piccolomini family. The palace is located in front of the pope’s summer residence and near Piazza Pio II; it has three floors and features Guelph cross windows. Inside, there is a small, simple courtyard with columns. After the death of Pius II, Ammannati continued to frequent Pienza and stay there, along with the pope’s closest collaborators. His numerous writings reveal his love for a landscape that blends with the architecture, a perfect place for inner meditation.
After the renovation and reconstruction of the urban fabric of the historic centre, many residents of the village of Corsignano, which had by then been transformed into a Renaissance town, found themselves homeless. For this reason, in 1463, Pius II commissioned the architect Pietro Paolo del Porrina to design the 12 Case Nuove (New Houses) of Pienza, located in the southern part of the town. This project, conceived by the humanist pope, was an early precursor of what we still call social housing today.
Each dwelling was built on two floors and featured a well.
