September 23-26 2024
Borgo Sant’Ambrogio
Pienza, Italy
Events
Events begin on the evening of September 23rd and end on September 26th. Aside from welcome drinks at Podere Il Casale on September 23rd, all events are located at our wedding venue, Borgo Sant’Ambrogio.
September 23rd
Welcome Drinks
Podere Il Casale
4:30pm - 7:30pm
Casual attire
September 24th
Pizza Lunch & Pool Day
Borgo Sant’Ambrogio
11am - 3pm
Casual or poolside attire
September 25th
Picnic & Lazy Afternoon
Borgo Sant’Ambrogio
10am - 2pm
Casual attire
Pasta Dinner
Borgo Sant’Ambrogio
5:30pm - late
Summer cocktail attire
September 26th
Wedding Ceremony
Borgo Sant’Ambrogio
4pm - 5pm
Formal attire, black tie optional
Wedding Reception
Borgo Sant’Ambrogio
5pm - late
Disheveled formal attire
Accommodations
We recommend staying at either the recently renovated Palazzo Massaini or in the town of Pienza. Transportation to and from all events will be provided for these locations.
Palazzo Massaini
7 minutes from Borgo Sant'Ambrogio
~$240/night
Transportation provided
To book, please email Francesca at prenotazioni@palazzomassaini.com
Hotel San Gregorio
Hotel Corsignano
Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza
Travel
Pienza is located in Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its rolling landscape dotted with medieval towns, wineries, and olive groves. We recommend folks fly into Florence or Rome, rent a car, and stop for a bite on the way in.
Flights into Italy
By car, Pienza is located about 1.5 hours from Florence and 2.5 hours from Rome. We recommend monitoring your preferred dates with a flight tracker such as Google Flights or FlightAware, and then booking your flights when the price drops.
To find discounted airfare, we recommend subscribing to discount flight newsletters, such as Going, Jack's Flight Club, and Dollar Flight Club, and searching for flights on Cheapflights, Skyscanner, and Kiwi. Additionally, point.me is great service for searching for flights to book with credit card and airline points.
Journey by car
From Florence (~1.5 hours)
From Rome (~2.5 hours)
In Italy, we’ve had good experiences with the rental car agency Sixt. Although we’ve never been asked for them, rental car companies technically require that drivers have an International Driving Permit. These can be acquired from AAA for $20.
Although a rental car is convenient, it is not necessary. We’ll have vans running between the wedding venue and both the town of Pienza and the hotel Palazzo Massaini for all events.
Journey by private transport
From Florence (~1.5 hours, ~$400)
From Rome (~2.5 hours, ~$600)
Private transfers will receive you at the airport and drop you off at your accommodations in Pienza directly. Some options departing from Florence and Rome include Transfeero, Hire in Italy, and Niccoli Limousine Service.
Journey by train
From Florence (~4 hours)
From Florence Airport Peretola (FLR), take a cab or tram to Alamanni Stazione. From Alamanni Stazione, take the IC 581 line toward Roma Termini. The nearest stop to Pienza is Chiusi-Chianciano Termini in Chiusi. You’ll then be about a 40-minute cab ride from Pienza.
From Rome (~4 hours)
Whether you land at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) or Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport (CIA), take a train to Roma Termini. From Roma Termini, take the Trenitalia train toward Firenza. The nearest stop to Pienza is Chiusi-Chianciano Termini in Chiusi. You’ll then be about a 40-minute cab ride from Pienza.
Tip
Rome2Rio is a great resource for planning train travel.
Passport
In order to enter Italy specifically and the Schengen Area generally, your passport must not expire within 6 months of your departure date.
Jetlag
Some tips for gracefully adjusting to a new time zone include remaining extra hydrated, avoiding alcohol during travel, catching sunlight first thing when you wake up, and timing caffeine, sleep aids, and naps carefully.
For that careful timing, Timeshifter is an app that takes your departure and arrival information and constructs a schedule to help overcome jetlag as quickly as possible.
Rideshare
Things to Do
Here’s our list of simple pleasures near Pienza.
Ristorante la Terrazza della Val d'Orcia
Lunch and dinner with a view in Pienza
Trattoria La Buca delle Fate
For late night pasta in Pienza, open till 10pm
Sette Di Vino
For pasta-free Tuscan cuisine in Pienza
Buon Gusto Gelateria
The best gelato in Pienza
Podere Il Casale
A farm-to-table restaurant, winery, and cheese maker with outstanding views of the countryside (12 minutes by car from Pienza)
Ristorante Daria
Innovative Tuscan cuisine in Monticchiello (15 minutes by car from Pienza)
Caffe GM
Wood-fired coffee roaster and espresso shop outside Pienza
Capitoni Marco | Azienda Agraria
Natural winery nearby (10 minutes by car from Pienza)
Fabbrica Pienza
Traditional winery nearby (10 minutes by car from Pienza)
La Vineria di Montepulciano
Cozy wine bar in Montepulciano (17 minutes by car from Pienza)
Podere Le Ripi
An exceptional biodynamic winery (41 minutes by car from Pienza)
Questions
Can I bring my kids?
Little ones are welcome to join for the daytime events on Tuesday Sep 24th and Wednesday Sep 25th. However, to give all our guests the space to celebrate without worry, we politely request no kids during the evening events. If your kids are joining and you want to connect with other parents doing the same, email us at hello@ashandaj2024.com.
How will the transportation work from Palazzo Massaini and Pienza?
Transportation from Palazzo Massaini and the town of Pienza to all events will be provided. Palazzo Massaini includes the building and 2 farmhouse villas. The buses and van will pass by all 3. For guests staying in Pienza, a van will pick up and drop off here near the bus stop off Via Enzo Mangiavacchi.
Here is the exact pick-up and return schedule for both locations by event:
Welcome Drinks, Sep 23 - Transportation to Podere il Casale
From Pienza: pickup at 4:10pm here (off Via Enzo Mangiavacchi)
From Palazzo Massaini: pickup at both 4:05pm and 4:25pm
Departures for return leave around 7:30pm
Pizza Lunch & Pool Day, Sep 24 - transportation to Borgo Sant'Ambrogio
From Pienza: pickup at 11:00am here (off Via Enzo Mangiavacchi)
From Palazzo Massaini: pickup at both 11:05am and 11:25am
Departures for return leave around 3:00pm
Picnic & Lazy Afternoon, Sep 25 - transportation to Borgo Sant'Ambrogio
From Pienza: pickup at 9:40am here (off Via Enzo Mangiavacchi)
From Palazzo Massaini: pickup at both 9:35am and 9:55am
Departures for return leave around 3:00pm
Pasta Dinner, Sep 25 - transportation to Borgo Sant'Ambrogio
From Pienza: pickup at 5:15pm here (off Via Enzo Mangiavacchi)
From Palazzo Massaini: pickup at both 5:05pm and 5:25pm
Departures for return leave around 10:00pm
Wedding, Sep 26 - transportation to Borgo Sant'Ambrogio
From Pienza: pickup at 3:35pm here (off Via Enzo Mangiavacchi)
From Palazzo Massaini: pickup at 3:40pm, 3:50pm, 4pm, and 4:10pm
Departures for return service leaves continuously between 11:00pm and 12:50am (last return service leaves at 12:50am)
Are events indoors or outdoors?
Weather permitting, all events will take place outside on the lawn. If the weather puts our attire at risk, we’ll move inside.
Please be aware that the walking surfaces throughout the venue are either grass, rough stone, or slightly less rough stone, and are generally treacherous for thin-heeled shoes.
I want to wear something I love, but I'm concerned that it might be too bright/too dark/too flashy/too anything. Should I wear it?
Yes! Please wear whatever you feel best in. We do not have a theme for our wedding. However, please note that Pienza is currently unseasonably cold, so we recommend a light sweater, wrap, or jacket for the dinners.
I have a question not listed here. How do I answer my question?
Please email us at hello@ashandaj2024.com.
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