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San Gimignano is a tiny Tuscan hill city simply an hour exterior of Florence. Folks come to San Gimignano to get pleasure from its stone structure and medieval towers; its museums and views — oh sure, and one explicit gelato store.
San Gimignano is as touristy as Tuscany will get — however it’s nonetheless a enjoyable place to go to.
Earlier than you propose your go to to San Gimignano, it’s best to know what it’s: a small city (inhabitants: 7,000) with a fair smaller walled medieval metropolis. That’s the half you’ll go to, and this city caters nearly completely to vacationers.
What does that imply? To check it to close by Siena, Siena continues to be a metropolis the place common Tuscan people reside and work. San Gimignano has one business: tourism. Within the walled metropolis of San Gimignano, I didn’t see a ironmongery store, a dry cleaner, a flea market — something that caters primarily to locals.
All of the being mentioned — I nonetheless suppose San Gimignano is price visiting. Among the best causes to go to San Gimignano is for the pictures. The walled city is extremely photogenic, the views over the panorama are grand, and the 14 stone towers make up a “Medieval Manhattan” that’s distinctive in Tuscany.
It’s a bit bushy to get to San Gimignano from Florence by public transit. After I visited, I went with Walks on their Tuscany tour via San Gimignano, Siena and the Chianti wine area (they let me be part of the tour without cost, and I liked it anyway). It was a simple and enjoyable option to see all three locations in a single day with out worrying about transit connections!
Let’s check out the perfect issues to do in San Gimignano. I believe you’ll get pleasure from this city!
This publish was revealed in November 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.
Issues to Do in San Gimignano
Climb Torre Grossa for spectacular views
In the event you’re on the lookout for these quintessential Tuscany views — a medieval city surrounded by lush, inexperienced rolling hills so far as the attention can see — you’ll love climbing the Torre Grossa in San Gimignano!
Torre Grossa, also called the Nice Tower, was constructed within the 14th century. At this time, at simply 53 meters (177 ft), it’s the tallest tower in San Gimignano. To get to the epic view on the high, you’ll must climb 218 steps.
Your ticket to the tower prices 9 EUR ($10) and in addition grants you entrance to the museum and gallery within the constructing beneath.
Climbing Torre Grossa is a good factor to do while you first arrive in San Gimignano because it’ll offer you an outline of town and appreciation for the place you might be in Tuscany.
And don’t be postpone if the climate isn’t cooperating! It was grey and drizzly throughout my go to, and I nonetheless love how my images got here out.
Discover the medieval city heart
The historic heart of San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Website for 2 main causes. First, it was an vital cease for pilgrims touring to Rome in the course of the Center Ages, and second, it was acknowledged for its spectacular towers — although sadly, solely 14 of the unique 72 towers survive in the present day.
Begin your exploration at Palazzo Comunale, also called Palazzo del Popolo, in San Gimignano’s predominant sq., Piazza del Duomo. This municipal palace is the seat of native authorities on the town and in addition homes a museum and artwork gallery. It’s additionally the constructing beneath Torre Grossa, so you may mix a go to to each the palace and tower.
Stroll from Piazza del Duomo to the linked Piazza della Cisterna the place you’ll discover extra medieval towers, an historical metropolis gate, an historical cistern and a few world-class gelato (extra on that later!).
Respect the beautiful church buildings
Like most medieval European cities, San Gimignano has its fair proportion of gorgeous church buildings to go to.
Begin with the principle church on the town, Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, also called the Duomo of San Gimignano. This church was constructed within the twelfth Century and had many vital frescoes added to it all through the Renaissance interval. The outside is easy, however inside you’ll see numerous architectural particulars and colourful art work.
Two different church buildings price visiting in San Gimignano are Chiesa di Sant’Agostino and Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Ponte. Chiesa di Sant’Agostino is the second largest church after the Collegiata and in addition homes some spectacular frescoes. Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Ponte is likely one of the oldest church buildings in San Gimignano and well-known for its artwork piece, Madonna with Youngster in Glory.
Well-known Italian painters Lippo Memmi and Benozzo Gozzoli each contributed frescoes to the Church of Sant’Agostino, Palazzo del Popolo and Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta.
Go to the museums & galleries
In the event you’d wish to be taught extra concerning the tradition and historical past of San Gimignano, you may go to one of many city’s museums or galleries. Begin with Museo Civico (Civic Museum), situated within the city corridor of Palazzo Comunale, the place you’ll find out about San Gimignano’s fascinating historical past, governance, and artwork scene. (Your ticket to the Torre Grossa will get you in right here.)
The Museo Archeologico shows artwork and artifacts from the Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval durations discovered within the space round San Gimignano. The Herbarium of Santa Fina (or Spezieria di Santa Fina) is ready up like an historical pharmacy, displaying vessels from the 15-18th Centuries.
Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea is a museum to go to for twentieth Century work.
San Gimignano additionally has quite a lot of trendy artwork galleries you may discover, which makes a stunning distinction to the traditional feeling of the city. Try Galleria Gagliardi or iSculpture for up to date sculptures, Galleria Continua for large-scale up to date artwork, and Nous Artwork Gallery for nature-inspired artwork.
Go wine tasting
You by no means should go far to seek out good wine in Italy — and that’s doubly true in Tuscany, which is house to among the most sturdy reds within the nation. The hills surrounding San Gimignano are house to some beautiful vineyards you may go to.
On this 2-Hour Wine & Connoisseur Tasting, you’ll be part of an knowledgeable sommelier at a Tuscan vineyard close to San Gimignano as they lead you thru a wine tasting. You’ll be taught concerning the completely different varieties produced on this winemaking area of Italy and pair your wine tasting with snacks or lunch.
Another choice is a wine and meals tasting at a family-run, natural farm and vineyard simply exterior of San Gimignano. Your go to will embrace a tour across the backyard, orchard, winery, olive grove, wine cellar and growing old room. You’ll then pair eight of the vineyard’s reds, whites and rosés with farm-grown snacks, reminiscent of olive oil and native cheeses.
Tour Torre e Casa Campatelli or Torre Salvucci Maggiore
Torre Grassa isn’t the one tower on the town, and so most of the towers right here in the present day exemplify San Gimignano’s historic significance. Whereas solely 14 towers stay, San Gimignano continues to be nicknamed the “Manhattan of Tuscany,” “Manhattan of the Center Ages,” or “Medieval Manhattan,” due to its well-known skyline of medieval skyscrapers.
Torre e Casa Campatelli (Campatelli Tower Home) is a twelfth Century tower that stands nearly 100 ft tall. At this time, you may tour the tower home, the place the Campatelli household used to reside, and see genuine 18th century furnishings all through the flooring.
Or if you need an much more immersive expertise, try Torre Salvucci Maggiore, which stands about 140 ft excessive. This tower is ready up as a vertical condo throughout 11 flooring and is obtainable for company to remain in in a single day. So long as you don’t thoughts stairs, this might be an unbelievable place to remain!
Be taught concerning the city historical past at San Gimignano 1300
Get able to time journey again to 14th Century Tuscany at San Gimignano 1300. This participating artwork and historical past museum recreates San Gimignano because it was within the 1300’s.
Inside you’ll discover a miniature clay reconstruction of your complete city within the 14th Century, in addition to separate dioramas exhibiting off metropolis life and the constructing of the towers.
Tour guides can be found to elucidate town’s historical past and reply the query of what occurred to all of San Gimignano’s towers. Subsequent door you’ll additionally discover a up to date artwork gallery and present store.
Try the native artisans and their shops
All alongside the squares and streets of San Gimignano, you’ll discover native artisans promoting meals gadgets, crafts, jewellery, clothes, and extra. In between touring the towers and church buildings, take a break to perform a little procuring.
My favourite store in San Gimignano was Balducci Ceramica. Right here you may watch husband and spouse staff Franco Balducci and Esther Vogeli craft their handmade pottery and ceramics, in addition to buy a chunk of artwork to take house. You’ll additionally see a few of Franco’s work round San Gimignano.
Different extremely rated outlets embrace Le Torri or Marri e Rossi for leather-based items, Pantani Arte for work and crafts, La Buca di Montauto for gourmand meals, and Macallè for jewellery.
Is it price procuring in San Gimignano? As an Italy journey knowledgeable who LOVES to buy, I might store for high-quality, artisanal gadgets in San Gimignano at one of many shops listed above. I might NOT store for reasonable, mass-market produced souvenirs right here, as these might be less expensive at markets in Florence.
Seize a gelato at Gelateria Dondoli
I really like monitoring down the perfect gelato store in Italian cities I go to, and in San Gimignano, that’s Gelateria Dondoli! This gelato store is massively well-liked and has gained numerous awards. It’s additionally conveniently situated, proper on Piazza della Cisterna.
Gelateria Dondoli is finest recognized for his or her handmade gelato utilizing wealthy, native substances. This has resulted in some distinctive flavors reminiscent of Crema di Santa Fina (with saffron and pine nuts), Champelmo (pink grapefruit with glowing wine), and mixtures like cheese and olive, chestnut and rosemary, and pumpkin and chocolate.
In the event you’re a extremely large fan, you may even take a gelato class with Sergio Dondoli himself!
I warn you, although — this place is BUSY and you’ll anticipate lengthy traces, even on drizzly days just like the day I visited. When you have restricted free time in your day journey to San Gimignano, give yourselves quarter-hour or so to attend in line right here. Maybe longer in the summertime.
Need gelato, however don’t have sufficient time to attend? There are a number of different cafes on Piazza della Cisterna that serve common gelato.
Go to Parco della Rocca & Citadel at sundown
In the event you’re on the lookout for the proper spot to catch a sundown in San Gimignano, head to Parco della Rocca, simply close to Piazza Duomo. This park is known as for Rocca di Montestaffoli, a 14th Century fortress on town partitions of San Gimignano. At this time, solely ruins of the partitions of the fortress stay.
Moreover being an awesome place to look at the solar go down over the broad fields of Tuscany, Parco della Rocca is commonly used for exhibits and occasions in the summertime.
The park hosts Giostra dei Bastioni, a jousting competitors between medieval knights, and the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Expertise La Rocca for wine lovers.
Take pleasure in a dinner with locals
Among the best methods to find the scrumptious meals and great hospitality of Tuscany is by eating with an area. With these experiences, you may get pleasure from an awesome meal with good firm and even attempt your hand at making an Italian dish.
On this Eating Expertise at a Native’s House you’ll be invited into an area’s house for a non-public meal. You’ll get pleasure from a present as your hosts put together household recipes proper in entrance of you. As soon as the cooking is completed, you’ll get pleasure from a four-course meal paired with native wines, and take house a memento apron.
Be taught to make pizza or pasta
In the event you’re going to discover ways to make pizza or pasta, Italy is the place to be taught! Whereas pizza isn’t a typical Tuscan dish, in the event you’re not visiting Naples in your journey, Tuscany will do exactly high quality.
On this 2-Hour Pizza Class & Wine Tasting, you’ll head to Tenuta Torciano Vineyard simply exterior of San Gimignano to be taught to make pizza the old school approach. The main focus might be on contemporary, native substances and studying from an knowledgeable pizza chef. After your cooking class, you’ll benefit from the fruits of your labor alongside extra Tuscan specialties and a wine tasting.
Or try this personal pasta-making class at an area’s house in San Gimignano. It doesn’t get extra genuine than making handmade pasta in an area Italian house! You and your host will put together three forms of pasta and revel in consuming them paired with sauces and native wines.
Go truffle looking
Some of the iconic experiences you may have in Tuscany goes out on a truffle hunt. Tuscany is likely one of the extra dependable areas in Italy for truffle-hunting. It’s laborious to not get excited as your knowledgeable truffle-hunting canine sniffs their option to underground gold!
On this Truffle Looking with Lunch & Wine Tasting Tour, you’ll be part of knowledgeable information and educated canine as they hunt for truffles in a forest close to San Gimignano. Your information will clarify how truffles are grown and located in Tuscany and — in the event you’re fortunate — your canine will hit the jackpot!
After your hunt, you’ll calm down again at an area vineyard the place you’ll get pleasure from a scrumptious Tuscan lunch, olive oil tasting, and wine tasting led by a sommelier.
Pattern the native delicacies
You possibly can eat effectively wherever in Italy, and that’s very true in San Gimignano! When you have time for a meal right here, remember to pattern some specialties distinctive to Tuscany and San Gimignano itself.
This a part of Tuscany is large on cinghiale (CHEEN-ghee-AH-lay) — wild boar. Whereas you will discover it throughout Tuscany, it’s one of many native specialties of San Gimignano.
My favourite go-to wild boar dish is pappardelle al cinghiale, which is thick-cut pasta in a wild boar meat sauce. It’s the type of dish that sticks to your ribs, in a great way!
You an additionally attempt wild boar sausage as a part of a salume platter (an enormous plate of cured meats served earlier than a meal), and wild boar stew is an alternative choice.
Le Vecchie Mura, within the heart of San Gimignano, is a pleasant spot if in case you have time for a leisurely lunch.
Different Tuscan specialities embrace ribollita (a stew of bread, beans and greens), papa al pomodoro (a bread, bean, and tomato soup), bistecca fiorentina (an infinite steak executed uncommon), and naturally, loads of deep, sturdy Tuscan crimson wines.
How A lot Time to Spend in San Gimignano, Italy
San Gimignano is a REALLY small city, and as of late, it caters primarily to vacationers’ wants. For that purpose, I believe you solely must spend a number of hours in San Gimignano.
Only a morning or a day ought to be sufficient time to discover San Gimignano; you may stretch it to a full day in the event you booked a cooking class or wine tasting journey or did some severe gallery-hopping.
Since you solely want half a day to get pleasure from San Gimignano, it pairs completely with one other Tuscan city as the proper day journey from Florence. I believe that Siena and San Gimignano make an ideal pair, as they’re shut to one another and have simple transit connections between them.
And as soon as once more — I actually loved my day journey from Florence to Siena and San Gimignano, which was simple, well-paced, and left me feeling like I had skilled each locations fairly properly.
How you can Get to San Gimignano, Italy
Most individuals go to San Gimignano on a day journey from Florence or as a part of an extended street journey round Tuscany.
In the event you’re planning an extended Tuscany street journey, you’ll positively wish to lease your personal automobile. Most of the small little cities and wineries have restricted public transport connections, and San Gimignano is not any exception.
From Florence, it’s an hourlong drive to San Gimignano, or you may take a bus to the city of Poggibonsi (50 minutes), then change to a bus to San Gimignano (20 minutes).
From Siena, it’s a 55-minute drive to San Gimignano, or you may take a bus on to San Gimignano (1 hour and 5 minutes).
In the event you’re solely visiting San Gimignano on a day journey from Florence, I strongly suggest reserving the Siena and San Gimignano Day Journey from Florence that I took with Walks. It was a extremely nice day and SO a lot simpler than navigating the general public transport.
The place to Keep in San Gimignano, Italy
In the event you do determine to remain in a single day in San Gimignano, listed here are among the finest locations to remain:
- Prime-rated finances lodge in San Gimignano: La Fornace Di Racciano is a family-run B&B on a country property simply exterior of San Gimignano. Take pleasure in swimming within the outside pool and admiring the wooden beam ceilings.
- Prime-rated mid-range lodge in San Gimignano: La Locanda di Quercecchio is situated inside San Gimignano and provides numerous genuine Tuscan attraction. One other nice choice for a mid-range finances is Leon Bianco, situated on the principle sq. in San Gimignano and mixing the fashionable with the normal.
- Prime-rated luxurious lodge in San Gimignano: Lodge Bel Soggiorno is centrally situated in San Gimignano and provides stunning views of the city and Tuscan countryside from its terraces and on-site restaurant.
Discover offers on locations to remain in San Gimignano right here.
Finest Time to Go to San Gimignano, Italy
You possibly can go to San Gimignano year-round — and loads of folks do — however anticipate larger crowds throughout excessive season, from late spring to early fall. As of late, it looks like excessive season in Tuscany retains getting longer and longer. There have been wall-to-wall crowds in Florence in March!
However in the event you’re on the lookout for the optimum time to go to Tuscany, I personally love visiting within the fall, particularly mid-to-late October. It’s a bit much less crowded, the temperatures are extra affordable, you get to see some altering leaves, and it’s time for the harvest.
Whereas some folks go to San Gimignano within the winter, it’s best to know that among the companies on the town shut in the course of the winter months. You possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from your journey — simply know that it is going to be a lot quieter than typical.
Is San Gimignano Value It?
Completely, San Gimignano is price visiting. It’s an enthralling small city with sufficient to do, see, and eat to entertain you for a number of hours.
However — and it is a large however — I wouldn’t suggest constructing your complete journey round San Gimignano, and even spending a full day right here. It’s finest paired with a second vacation spot, like my tour from Florence to Siena and San Gimignano.
Make your journey to San Gimignano actually price it by pairing it with a close-by Tuscan metropolis, like Siena, to benefit from your day journey!
Extra on Florence and Tuscany:
Planning a Journey to Italy:
Cool Locations in Northern Italy:
- Three Weeks in Northern Italy: An Itinerary
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Better of Southern Italy:
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Have you ever been to San Gimignano? Share away!
