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The walled medieval village of San Gimignano, halfway between Florence and Siena, is perched on the top of a hill in typical Tuscan style. It's beautifully preserved medieval streets are dominated by a forest of 12th and 13th-century towers built by the village’s noble inhabitants as competing symbols of their wealth. At its peak, there were 72 towers, though just 14 remain today. San Gimignano's picturesque rural setting and atmospheric medieval architecture make it a popular day trip from Florence, and you’ll find plenty of good trattorias along with shops selling locally-produced saffron and the fruity white Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine.
Italy specialist KimberlyA hilltop idyll, San Gimignano is small enough to be explored during a leisurely afternoon and yet full of interesting nooks and crannies, with several towers you can climb for views over the Tuscan countryside.
Things to see and do in San Gimignano
Duomo
San Gimignano's Romanesque collegiate church was consecrated by the pope in 1148 and is most famous for its magnificent frescoes. Set on the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route to Rome, the church grew along with the town's fortunes and by the 14th century was able to commission leading artists to complete its cycle of vivid frescoes. These remarkable artworks are generally very well preserved and depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments as well as stories about local Saint Fina, who is celebrated in a beautiful side chapel decorated in an elaborate Renaissance style.
Piazza della Cisterna
Named after the 13th-century well at its heart, triangular Piazza della Cisterna is one of the town's two main squares. It's surrounded by a rich collection of medieval houses and towers, once owned by the town's most affluent citizens. An ancient city gate, Arco dei Becci, sits in its southwest corner flanked by further towers. The square would have been originally used for markets and public events, but today it's a wonderful place to linger over coffee in one of the cafés before exploring the narrow side streets that branch off into the town.
Palazzo Comunale & Torre Grossa
The 13th-century Palazzo Comunale, or municipal palace, has been the heart of civic society in San Gimignano for centuries and today still houses the town council offices. In times past, dignitaries would have addressed the crowd in the square below from the first floor gallery. Today, the interiors remain much as they would have been in medieval times with intricate frescoes of castles and rural scenes, as well as religious works and, in the Camera del Podestà, unusual matrimonial scenes. The palazzo is adorned with the village's highest tower, the 54 m (177 ft) Torre Grossa, which you can climb for spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
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Suggested itineraries featuring San Gimignano
Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in San Gimignano, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near San Gimignano
- Siena 29 kilometers away
- Florence 38 kilometers away
- Pisa 59 kilometers away
- Forte dei Marmi 90 kilometers away
- Perugia 117 kilometers away
- Porto Venere 117 kilometers away
- Bologna 118 kilometers away
- Orvieto 121 kilometers away
- Cinque Terre 128 kilometers away
- Umbria 132 kilometers away
- Modena 132 kilometers away
- Assisi 136 kilometers away
- Ravenna 141 kilometers away
- Parma 160 kilometers away
- Portofino and Santa Margherita 175 kilometers away
- Genoa 199 kilometers away
- Rome 212 kilometers away
- Verona 220 kilometers away
- Sirmione 226 kilometers away
- Lake Garda 241 kilometers away
- Venice 243 kilometers away
- Gardone Riviera 243 kilometers away
- Milan 267 kilometers away
- Barbaresco 275 kilometers away
- Alba 277 kilometers away
- Barolo 279 kilometers away
- Costa Smeralda 290 kilometers away
- Como 303 kilometers away
- Blevio 306 kilometers away
- Torno 307 kilometers away
- Madonna di Campiglio 308 kilometers away
- Laglio 309 kilometers away
- Lezzeno 313 kilometers away
- Bellagio 314 kilometers away
- Piedmont 316 kilometers away
- Tremezzo 317 kilometers away
- Lake Como 319 kilometers away
- Turin 322 kilometers away
- Dolomites 334 kilometers away
- Stresa 335 kilometers away
- Verbania 338 kilometers away
- Lake Maggiore 338 kilometers away
- Alta Badia 354 kilometers away
- Ischia 388 kilometers away
- Naples 395 kilometers away
- Herculaneum 403 kilometers away
- Sardinia 410 kilometers away
- Pompeii 417 kilometers away
- Capri 418 kilometers away
- Sorrento 420 kilometers away
- The Amalfi Coast 432 kilometers away
Photos of San Gimignano
Our expert guides to exploring San Gimignano
Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting San Gimignano, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate San Gimignano at its best.
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Food highlights of Italy Food highlights of Italy
Food highlights of Italy
Italy specialist Caroline talks about her love of Italian food in this guide, focusing on the more renowned culinary cities and regions. She also talks about her experiences of creating pasta, catching fresh fish for dinner in Sorrento, wine tasting in Tuscany's Chianti region and where to eat like a local.
Read this guide