San Gimignano, a small walled village about halfway between Florence and Siena, is famous for its fascinating medieval architecture and towers that rise above of all the other buildings offering an impressive view of the city from the surrounding valley.
At the height of its glory, San Gimignano’s patrician families had built around 72 tower-houses as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano still retains its feudal atmosphere and appearance.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, San Gimignano offers visitors the chance to step back in time while enjoying its local products including saffron and its white wine, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
#sangimignano #sangimignanoitaly #italy
Duomo of San Gimignano
No matter how short your visit in San Gimignano might be, you must visit the cathedral to admire the marvelous cycle of frescoes that recount stories from the New and Old Testaments painted by illustrious artists of the 14th-century Sienese school and the extraordinary Renaissance jewel, the Chapel of Santa Fina. Then head to the Museum of Sacred Art next door to admire the exquisite “Madonna of the Rose”.
Civic Museums in San Gimignano
Must-sees during your visit to San Gimignano are the Palazzo Comunale, Pinacoteca and Torre Grossa, the tallest tower in the city from which you can enjoy a unique 360Β° view over all of San Gimignano. If you have time, also visit the Archeological Museum where the second floor houses the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery, a mix of the ancient past and more relatively recent past.
San Gimignano, known as the “city of beautiful towers,” had 72 towers in its heyday. Now 14 remain, and, rising above Tuscany’s Elsa Valley, they make the town look like a medieval dreamscape. Take in the fresco-covered Collegiate Church, the Civic Museum and the views from atop 177-foot Torre Grossa. Daytrippers from Florence tend to fill up the streets during the day, so for a more up-close-and-personal look at the town, spend the night.
Visitors are universally spellbound when they discover San Gimignano. The reason for this lays in the well-preserved feudal atmosphere and appearance from the Middle Ages with its architectural integrity and original intact urban layout . The towers capture the way wealth and power were displayed through dramatic public and private monuments.
The towers of San Gimignano were not just displays of wealth, they also represented the power of the families who built them. The taller the tower, the more important the owners appeared to be. This would lead to conflicts and often families would feud for decades and split the loyalties of the citizens. Legends tell stories of young lovers from quarrelling families who would meet in secret, in the shadows of the towers, like real-life Romeos and Juliets.
San Gimignano is easy to spot from a distance, and simply breathtaking once you enter the walls. Medieval ramparts rise from the surrounding green Tuscan farmland and provide first-time visitors with unforgettable views. Once inside, the town is easy to navigate with narrow streets leading to large squares with grand churches and palaces, and, of course, the towersβof which, 13 remain. After walking around the hamlet and climbing tower stairs, the museum explains the history and local shops offer guests local products like saffron and the region’s famed white wine: the Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
San Gimignano’s international reputation it not just about its architectural uniqueness. The richness and beauty of the countryside, and its precious products, are unsurpassed. The celebrated Vernaccia white wine, for instance, is produced exclusively in the area.
At the end of the 13th century, this marvellous white wine appeared throughout Europe on the tables of kings, popes, and wealthy merchants. Writers like Dante Alighieri and Boccaccio mentioned Vernaccia wine in their poems. In 1993, Vernaccia was the first white wine in Tuscany to receive DOCG certification.
—————————
Our Web Site:
Instagram: