San Gimignano, often referred to as the "Town of Fine Towers" or "Medieval Manhatten", stands as a medieval masterpiece in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famed for its well-preserved tower houses, offering a glimpse into the power and prestige of its 14th-century inhabitants. Wander through its charming streets to discover rich history, exquisite art, and vibrant local culture. The charming town, surrounded by stunning Tuscan landscapes, is a perfect day trip destination.
Top 10 Highlights of San Gimignano
Unforgettable 360° view of San Gimignano
San Gimignano, Tuscany
As you wander through the cobbled streets of San Gimignano, there’s one spot you can’t miss: the Torre Grossa. Rising 54 meters, it’s the tallest tower in the city and has stood as a symbol of power and wealth since the 14th century. The climb—218 steps, no elevator—may be challenging, but the reward is a stunning 360-degree view of Tuscany’s rolling vineyards and the sea of terracotta rooftops below.
Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
San Gimignano, Tuscany
The Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta or Duomo di San Gimignano is a Roman Catholic collegiate church and minor basilica in San Gimignano, in Tuscany in central Italy. It contains important cycles of Renaissance frescoes by artists including Domenico Ghirlandaio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Taddeo di Bartolo, Lippo Memmi and Bartolo di Fredi. It falls within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Centre of San Gimignano, with its frescoes being described by UNESCO as works of outstanding beauty.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
The chiesa di Sant'Agostino is the second largest church in San Gimignano, Italy, after the Collegiata. It is owned by the Order of Saint Augustine.
Sant'Agostino is an imposing 13th century building. The interior is a large hall dominated by the seventeen-panel fresco cycle on The Life of St Augustine around the high altar, painted by Benozzo Gozzoli between 1463 and 1467. The altarpiece is the Coronation of the Virgin by Piero del Pollaiuolo. There are a number of other frescoes in the church. The Cappella di San Bartolo houses the remains of the eponymous saint, a lay Franciscan who died of leprosy. The magnificent altar in the chapel is by Benedetto da Maiano.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
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 close 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.
The building contains important fresco decorations by Memmo di Filippuccio, Lippo Memmi and others, a museum and a gallery with works of the Florentine and Sienese schools of art - including paintings by Coppo di Marcovaldo, Lippo Memmi, Benozzo Gozzoli, Filippino Lippi, Il Sodoma and Pinturicchio.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
Piazza della Cisterna is a piazza in San Gimignano, Italy. It has a triangular shape with a slight natural slope and is connected to the nearby Piazza del Duomo by an open passage. The pavement is brick and the piazza is surrounded by houses and medieval towers. There are presently 5 towers onto the square or very near it and the bases of other five are visible on the facade of the various palaces, plus one, the Ridolfi tower, which is no longer in existence having collapsed in 1646 onto the family palace, which divided the square in two alongside the short axis, thus making this relatively small area a concentrate of medieval architecture.
In the south-west corner, the piazza meets the Arc of Becci,, an ancient city gate. The arc is flanked by the massive rectangular towers of Becci on the left and Cugnanesi on the right.
Past the access to via di Castello on the east side, which led down to the original Bishop’s castle, the northern side of the square is occupied by the renaissance Cortesi Palace, which extended up to the torre del Diavolo, and extends along the north side of the square including the old houses of the Cattani family. The remains of two pre-existing towers of the Cattani palace are clearly visible onto the facade of the Cortesi Palace.
The west side is adorned with various towers, like the twin towers of Ardinghelli and the tower of palazzo Pellari visible over the roofs.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
The Saint Fina Chapel is an Early Renaissance chapel in the right aisle of the Collegiate church of Santa Maria Assunta, located in San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy. It was designed by Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano in 1468 to enshrine the relics of Saint Fina. The side walls of the chapel are painted in fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio with two scenes from her life, executed between 1477 and 1478.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
Piazza del Duomo is a city square in San Gimignano, Italy.
Travel Information
Best time to visit
The best months for visiting are from April to July and again from September to October, offering pleasant weather and fewer crowds. The popular summer months of June through August see a spike in visitors, making the town quite bustling. Visit best early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid peak times.
How to get to San Gimignano
By car** is the easiest way to reach San Gimignano. From Florence, take the Siena-Florence freeway and exit at Poggibonsi Nord, then follow signs to San Gimignano. Coming from Siena, follow the same freeway towards Florence and exit at Poggibonsi Nord. Outside of the small town, there are several parking areas.
By Public Transport: San Gimignano itself doesn't have a train station, the nearest station is in Poggibonsi. Once in Poggibonsi, a bus ride of around 25 minutes will take you directly to town.
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History
San Gimignano's history is as fascinating as its famous skyline. Originally an Etruscan village in the 3rd century BC, it became a site of legend. Its name, derived from Saint Geminianus, commemorates the bishop's miraculous protection of the city from Attila the Hun's destruction in 450 AD. This act of divine intervention led to the town's rechristening and the construction of a church in his honor, around which a walled village later developed. It was also known as the "Castle of San Gimignano" or "Castle of the Forest" due to the extensive woodlands that surrounded it. By 929, it fell under the governance of the bishops of Volterra.
The Middle Ages saw San Gimignano prosper as a key stop for Catholic pilgrims on the Via Francigena to Rome. bolstered by the trade of saffron and the celebrated Vernaccia wine.
The Middle Ages saw San Gimignano prosper as a key stop for Catholic pilgrims to Rome, thanks to its position on the Via Francigena. The town thrived on the trade of saffron and Vernaccia wine, commodities that were highly prized in both culinary and cloth dyeing practices of the time. Its independence from the bishops of Volterra in 1199 marked a golden era of building and cultural development, though not without strife; the Guelphs and Ghibellines' conflicts mirrored the town's internal family rivalries. Competing noble families constructed 72 tower houses, symbols of wealth and power. Interestingly, restrictions were later imposed to limit their heights to that of the Palazzo Comunale. Today only 14 remain, since most were victims of time and engineering misjudgments.
San Gimignano's development took a dramatic turn with the Black Death in 1348, which halved its population. The subsequent submission to Florence marked a decline in its development, preserving its medieval character up until the 19th century when its historical and artistic value began to be recognized. Today, San Gimignano stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its well-preserved Gothic and Romanesque architecture, including the renowned tower houses.
