The ultimate city guide to San Gimignano, Italy

In the heart of medieval Tuscany, in the north-western part of the province of Siena, the historic center of San Gimignano represents one of the most evocative corners, with its parade of towers that capture the amazed gaze of tourists, and catapult them into a dimension unique and ancient space-time, as only the magic of architecture and traditional Tuscan art can still create.

History

The village of San Giminiano had great importance and wealth in the Middle Ages, and the 15 towers that so fascinate us today must have been an impressive sight when they were more than seventy in the distant thirteenth century.

Fortunately for us, the Renaissance period saw an economic decline of the city, effectively freezing the medieval architecture and preserving it in the splendid well-preserved example that today attracts thousands of tourists, and has become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to see in San Gimignano

The visit of San Giminiano usually starts from the southern side of the city where the Porta San Giovanni opens in the splendid city walls that completely envelop the historic center.

The other city gates are respectively Porta alle Fonti, Porta S. Jacopo, Porta S. Matteo to the north and Porta del Quercecchio to the west.

Entering from Porta San Giovanni the center winds along the road of Via S. Giovanni, paved and slightly rising, which is flanked by elegant buildings with the austere profile of the towers in the direction of the city center.

The spaces suddenly open when you pass the Arco dei Becci which leads to the arrival in Piazza della Cisterna, which acts as a magnificent introduction to the nearby Piazza del Duomo. It is one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Italy and the world, with a herringbone brick pavement and some valuable houses such as the Tortoli-Treccani palace and the Razzi house.

The Towers of San Gimignano

The heart of the city lies between Piazza Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo where the ancient Palazzo del Podestà is located, above which the Torre Rognosa, the tallest tower in San Giminiano, dominates, in total 51 m. Its size constrained the growth of the other towers which, by decree, could not exceed the tower of the municipality, La Rognosa itself, in height.

Here in the heart of the city center, there are other towers including the slender Torre del Diavolo and the two Torri degli Ardinghelli, also famous for their slight asymmetry, despite being twin buildings.

The most important monument in the center, however, is the Collegiata, a thirteenth-century Romanesque church that contains valuable works of art within it.

The best place to photograph the whole of the 15 San Giminiani Towers is located just west of the center, going up Via Quercecchio to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, of which few ruins remain. However, a tower in the walls has resisted the action of time, and from its top, you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the historic center of San Giminiano and its dense network of towers.

Do not miss the SanGimignano1300 exhibition which can be admired in two buildings in the historic center, Palazzo Gamucci and Palazzo Ficarelli, here you will find a beautiful model of the village during the medieval era.

In general, the visit of San Giminiano ends by taking the Via di S. Matteo and arriving at the church of S. Agostino. It is a Romanesque building with Gothic elements, which gives its best inside, thanks to a series of valuable works of art including the frescoes of the Life of St. Augustine, produced by Benozzo Gozzoli and a Coronation of Mary performed by Pollaiolo.

From S. Agostino you can go back towards Porta S. Giovanni along the same route or choose an alternative road that takes you back to Piazza della Cisterna through the Via delle Romite and Via del Castello.

Events and festivals

Numerous events take place in the various months of the year in the center of San Gimignano. It starts with the celebrations dedicated to the figure of San Gimignano which occur on January 31st, and after the Carnival, on March 12th, the Feast of Santa Fina, patron saint of the village, is celebrated.

In June the center is revived by the historical re-enactment of the Ferie delle Messi, while in the summer months the program of events of San Gimignano Estate follows, with the last appointment signed by the Fiera di Sant’Agostino that fills the squares of the center with stalls in the day of 29 August.

Finally, for fans of flea markets, we would like to point out that from April to August, every fourth Sunday of the month, an interesting Antiques Market takes place in Piazza delle Erbe.

Where to sleep in San Gimignano

For those who want to experience the thrill of spending a week in the most beautiful medieval village in Italy, we recommend staying in Palazzo Moronti Ciotta, a historic residence located in the ancient heart of the village. The building has a great historical interest and also offers real jewels of art inside. In practice, it is like being able to live for a few days, in the same and unaltered atmospheres of past centuries.

How to get to San Giminiano

To get to San Gimignano there are various possibilities. For those traveling from the Tyrrhenian coast along the Aurelia (SS1) at Cecina, turn along the state road 68 in the direction of Volterra. After the beautiful Etruscan city, San Giminiano can be reached by two alternative routes: the shorter and more spectacular one that passes alongside the Balze and arrives at 31 km at the city of the Towers, or continuing along the state road in the direction of Poggibonsi and Siena and turning Castel S. Giminiano northwards along the provincial road 47 and after another 13 km reaching the city of San Geminiano.

For those coming from the A1 motorway. if you arrive from the north it is better to exit at Firenze Certosa and take the Firenze – Siena freeway to Poggibonsi. From here you exit in the direction of the provincial road n ° 1 which leads to San Giminiano in about 15 km.

For those arriving from the south, it is advisable to exit in Val di Chiana taking the SS 73 towards Siena, pass the provincial capital along the highway to Florence and exit at Poggibonsi following the route described above.

Climate and when to go

There is no more suitable period to visit Sam Giminiano, every season has its charm, both the gray of winter that makes the profile of the towers even more fascinating, which almost seem to blend in with the mist. and get lost in the void, be it the summer or spring sky when the white clouds towering in the blue sky, seem to want to challenge the daring towers of the center. The climate is mild in Tuscany, made even sweeter by its hilly position at just over 300 meters above sea level. In winter, however, the hotel offer is smaller, and on weekends the accommodation capacity can become saturated, making a reservation convenient.