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San Gimignano, Italy
Tuscany's Towering Medieval Gem
by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 11/13/2024
San Gimignano was somewhat of a "whistle stop" on our way from Sienna to Livorno during our
trip to Italy (Click here to view the trip overview page).
This Piazza (image above), entered from Via San Giovanni, is the main square of the town. It is triangular in shape and is
surrounded by medieval houses of different dates, among them some fine examples of Romanesque and Gothic palazzos. At the centre of the
piazza stands a well which was the main source of water for the town\'s residents. The structure dates from 1346. Although much of it has
been renewed in the late 20th century, parts of the paving date from the 13th century.
Only a 42 kilometer drive from Siena (via Raccordo Autostradale Firenze & SR68/SP44). We had read about this area and Castel San Gimignano during our Italy trip research phase, and decided that since it was on the way to Livorno, that this would be a good place to visit to break up the drive, explore the village and maybe have a bite to eat.
Interesting Facts about San Gimignano / Where is it Located? Map
- The ancient village gets its name from the Saint Gimignano.
- Best Gelato In The World at the Artisan Gelato shop in the main square.
- San Gimignano is also known as the city of beautiful towers; in fact once there were 72 towers within the walls now there are only 14 towers remaining.
- The Black Plague essentially ruined the City. A significant portion of the population were killed and caused many people to flee the area.
- During medieval times, Catholic pilgrims who were heading to the Vatican and Rome usually stopped here, because the town is located on the ancient road known as Via Francigena.
- San Gimignano saffron has been grown in this area since ancient times and is highly regarded as some of the best in the world.
- San Gimignano gained independence in 1199. It was originally an Etruscan and then Roman settlement founded on a hill, 334 meters above sea level. In time, it became a feudal domain of the bishops of Volterra and gained independence in 1199.
San Gimignano Italy
First Views of San Gimignano
These are the kinds of views of the village that we got as we drove up on the Italian SP1 highway (Via San Gimignano), surrounded by miles of lush agriculture, trees and a surprising lack of traffic.
It is only a 55 kilometer drive from Siena to San Gimignano, but the route was so scenic & traffic free, that it did not feel like we had driven very far at all.
Exploration of San Gimignano
It is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls, form an unforgettable skyline.
A Village Surrounded by Vineyards
San Gimignano is surrounded by farm lands and vineyards. The village is famous for it's white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from the ancient variety of Vernaccia grape which is grown on the sandstone hillsides of the area.
Click here to learn more about wine from Tuscany
Since San Gimignano is somewhat of a "living museum", the streets are narrow and cobble stoned as originally constructed. Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with outstanding examples of secular buildings as well as churches. The Palazzo Comunale, the Collegiate Church and Church of Sant' Agostino contain frescos, including cycles dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.
San Gimignano is primarily pedestrian-only, so no need for dodging cars or buses! However it should be noted that walking on cobblestone can be very tiring if you do not have good shoes on!
Collegiate Church of San Gimignano
The Collegiate Church of San Gimignano, also known as the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, is a stunning Romanesque church. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famed for its richly decorated frescoes and historical significance.
Built in the 12th century, the church’s modest exterior contrasts with its breathtaking interior, which is adorned with vibrant fresco cycles painted by renowned artists of the time, including Bartolo di Fredi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Benozzo Gozzoli. These frescoes depict scenes from both the Old and New Testaments, covering the walls in intricate detail that illustrates Biblical stories for worshippers of medieval San Gimignano.
One of the church’s highlights is the Last Judgment fresco by Taddeo di Bartolo, which portrays vivid scenes of heaven and hell in dramatic, colorful detail. The church also features a wooden crucifix attributed to Niccolò di Segna and a striking chapel dedicated to Santa Fina, a local saint, adorned with frescoes by Ghirlandaio that depict her life and miracles.
San Gimignano Town Hall ("Palazzo Comunale")
The town hall building is immediately to the left of the Collegiate Church (the Duomo).
The Palazzo Comunale also known as the Palazzo del Popolo of San Gimignano has been the seat of the civic authority in the comune since the 13th century. It is located on the Piazza del Duomo adjacent to the Collegiate Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The building and Collegiate Church are at the heart of the medieval town, and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the "Historic Centre of San Gimignano".
San Gimignano is headed by a mayor (sindaco) assisted by a legislative body, the consiglio comunale, and an executive body, the giunta comunale. Since 1995 the mayor and members of the consiglio comunale are directly elected together by resident citizens, while from 1945 to 1995 the mayor was chosen by the legislative body.
Some Useful Links for San Gimignano
- Google Search Results List for "Restaurants in San Gimignano"
- Google Search Results List for "Accommodations in San Gimignano"
- San Gimignano on the 'Discover Tuscany' Site
- Top Things to do in San Gimignano on the 'Lonely Planet' Site
- San Gimignano: Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour from the "Get Your Guide" Site
- Amazon Search Results List for "San Gimignano"
- Youtube Search Results List for "San Gimignano"
- Just Traveling Thru European Travel Tips
- Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
- Visit our Youtube Channel
- San Gimignano Wikipedia Article
- Our San Gimignano Image Gallery
- San Gimignano Google Images Set
- Google Reviews for San Gimignano, Italy
Italy Itinerary Trip Flow
Click above Image to view larger Google MapThis trip was accomplished half by train and half by auto, as we did not need a car in Rome and so we waited until we arrived in Florence before we obtained a rental vehicle. This allowed us to perform all of our day trips with a car, as several locations were remote. Prior to traveling to Venice, we turned the rental car in and took the train, as no vehicles are allowed in Venice and all of our transportation needs were met through use of water taxis and walking.
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