In the heart of the hills of Tuscany, south-west of splendid Florence, San Gimignano has something to make many destinations pale in comparison. Historical, cultural and oh so attractive, it will win the hearts of travellers looking for an extraordinary stay.
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the medieval village of San Gimignano is definitely a favourite destination. In the middle of the Tuscan hills covered with vineyards, olive trees and fragrant cypresses for miles and miles, San Gimignano and its terracotta tiled roofs are an endless invitation to stroll. A key stopover for pilgrims travelling to Rome along the Via Francigena in the Middle Ages, this cultural and generous city has managed to preserve an important heritage from its rich past. As you enter San Gimignano, its feudal atmosphere and medieval features will jump out at you. A historical bubble, it impresses by the beauty of its 14 high medieval towers that you can discover as you stroll through its narrow streets steeped in history. In the 14th century, the city had no less than 72 towers, most of them perched more than 50 metres high. The Pesciolini House on Via San Matteo, but also the Palazzo Franzesi-Ceccarelli, the Torre Grossa, Piazza della Cisterna and the Cugnanesi House are worth seeing, as is the Torre Comunale (Town Hall Tower). It was also the fourteenth century that will forever mark the overall architecture of San Gimignano: walls, magnificent palaces and numerous convents flourished at that time, to adorn the historic heart of San Gimignano to this day. Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo will give you a beautiful view of these splendid, elegant and solid buildings, which over the centuries have been home to many artists representing the so-called Sienese School. If you can, we recommend that you visit these tours: after climbing sometimes several hundred steps, you will be able to discover breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. After this beautiful discovery, take the time to stroll through the cool, shady, arcaded alleys to discover its small shops and galleries, where you can "shop" a whole host of local products such as saffron and Vernaccia di San Gimignano, reputed to be one of the best white wines in Italy. To learn all about this wine and its origins, oenophiles can visit the Vernaccia Wine Museum, housed in the Villa de la Rocca di Montestaffoli.
But if there is one site that is a must to visit, it is certainly the Duomo of San Gimignano. In the heart of the historic centre, the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano houses a large number of huge murals, which impress by their size and beauty. From wall to ceiling, the frescoes multiply to tell the story of the New and Old Testament through paintings. An architectural jewel, the Chapel of Santa Fina is one of the most beautiful symbols of the Renaissance in San Gimignano, built by three Florentine artists. Finally, the Fonti Medievali, the Museum of Torture, the Torri dei Salvucci, the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Torre Chigi add to the (already very long) list of visits to be made while passing through San Gimignano.