Penza is a birthplace of Aeneas Salvias Piccolomini who later became Pople Pius II. Once he became Pope, Piccolomini had the entire village of Corsignano rebuilt and renamed to become an ideal Renaissance town. The place was intended as a retreat from Rome, and it represents the first application of humanist urban planning concepts.  The humanist approach to urban design was first pioneered here and later spread throughout Italy and eventually to other European centres.  In short, another charming Tuscan town full of history, great shops and amazing food.

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