Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian libretto after Bartolomeo Sestini's verse novella Pia de' Tolomei, which was based on Canto V, vv.

[2] Her story was so familiar to Dante's readers that an understated allusion was enough to call it to mind: «Deh, quando tu sarai tornato al mondo, e riposato de la lunga via», seguitò 'l terzo spirito al secondo, «Ricorditi di me, che son la Pia; Siena mi fé, disfecemi Maremma: salsi colui che 'nnanellata pria disposando m'avea con la sua gemma.» “Ah, when you have returned to the world, and rested from the long journey,” followed the third spirit after the second, “remember me, the one who is Pia; Siena made me, Maremma undid me: he knows it, the one who first encircled my finger with his jewel, when he married me.” 19th century Donizetti agreed to write Pia de' Tolomei for the Teatro La Fenice in Venice and began composing it in October 1836 before the premiere of L'assedio di Calais in Naples in November.

[3] The opening was delayed when bass Celestino Salvatori, who had been scheduled to sing the role of Nello della Pietra, became ill, and Donizetti had to rewrite the part for the baritone Giorgio Ronconi.

[7] Donizetti revised it a second time with the help of an unknown librettist for the Teatro Argentina in Rome, where it was performed in May 1838 with the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi (the future wife of Verdi) in the title role.

When she refuses his love, as revenge Ghino informs Nello that he has discovered a secret message (found by the mischievous servant Ubaldo) proving that Pia has an adulterous relation.

Impressed by Pia's virtue and informed of the true identity of her alleged lover, Ghino repents and, mortally wounded in battle, reveals the truth to Nello.