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San Gimignano is a tiny Tuscan hill the town simply an hour out of doors of Florence. Folks come to San Gimignano to revel in its stone structure and medieval towers; its museums and perspectives — oh sure, and one explicit gelato store.
San Gimignano is as touristy as Tuscany will get — nevertheless it’s nonetheless a amusing position to talk over with.
Sooner than you intend your talk over with to San Gimignano, you will have to know what it’s: a small the town (inhabitants: 7,000) with an excellent smaller walled medieval town. That’s the section you’ll talk over with, and this the town caters virtually fully to vacationers.
What does that imply? To match it to close by Siena, Siena continues to be a town the place common Tuscan other folks are living and paintings. San Gimignano has one trade: tourism. Within the walled town of San Gimignano, I didn’t see a ironmongery store, a dry cleaner, a flea marketplace — anything else that caters essentially to locals.
The entire being stated — I nonetheless suppose San Gimignano is value visiting. One of the most easiest causes to talk over with San Gimignano is for the images. The walled the town is amazingly photogenic, the perspectives over the panorama are grand, and the 14 stone towers make up a “Medieval New york” this is distinctive in Tuscany.
It’s slightly bushy to get to San Gimignano from Florence through public transit. Once I visited, I went with Walks on their Tuscany tour through San Gimignano, Siena and the Chianti wine region (they let me sign up for the excursion free of charge, and I beloved it anyway). It was once a very easy and amusing option to see all 3 puts in one day with out being worried about transit connections!
Let’s check out the most efficient issues to do in San Gimignano. I feel you’ll revel in this the town!
This publish was once printed in November 2024 and was once co-written through Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.
Torre Grossa is house to considered one of my favourite perspectives in Tuscany!
Issues to Do in San Gimignano
Climb Torre Grossa for impressive perspectives
If you happen to’re in search of the ones quintessential Tuscany perspectives — a medieval the town surrounded through lush, inexperienced rolling hills so far as the attention can see — you’ll love mountain climbing the Torre Grossa in San Gimignano!
Torre Grossa, often referred to as the Nice Tower, was once constructed within the 14th century. These days, at simply 53 meters (177 ft), it’s the tallest tower in San Gimignano. To get to the epic view on the best, you’ll want to climb 218 steps.
Your price ticket to the tower prices 9 EUR ($10) and likewise grants you front to the museum and gallery within the development under.
Hiking Torre Grossa is a brilliant factor to do whilst you first arrive in San Gimignano because it’ll come up with an outline of the town and appreciation for the place you’re in Tuscany.
And don’t be cast off if the elements isn’t cooperating! It was once grey and drizzly throughout my talk over with, and I nonetheless love how my pictures got here out.
This tiny the town middle packs a punch.
Discover the medieval the town middle
The historical middle of San Gimignano is a UNESCO Global Heritage Web site for 2 primary causes. First, it was once a very powerful forestall for pilgrims touring to Rome throughout the Heart Ages, and 2d, it was once known for its spectacular towers — even though unfortunately, best 14 of the unique 72 towers continue to exist as of late.
Get started your exploration at Palazzo Comunale, often referred to as Palazzo del Popolo, in San Gimignano’s primary sq., Piazza del Duomo. This municipal palace is the seat of native govt on the town and likewise properties a museum and artwork gallery. It’s additionally the development underneath Torre Grossa, so you’ll be able to mix a talk over with to each the palace and tower.
Walk from Piazza del Duomo to the hooked up Piazza della Cisterna the place you’ll to find extra medieval towers, an historical town gate, an historical cistern and a few world-class gelato (extra on that later!).
The Duomo of San Gimignano is understated at the out of doors.
Admire the lovely church buildings
Like maximum medieval Eu towns, San Gimignano has its fair proportion of lovely church buildings to talk over with.
Get started with the principle church on the town, Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, often referred to as the Duomo of San Gimignano. This church was once constructed within the twelfth Century and had many necessary frescoes added to it all through the Renaissance length. The outside is understated, however inside of you’ll see loads of architectural main points and colourful art work.
Two different church buildings value visiting in San Gimignano are Chiesa di Sant’Agostino and Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Ponte. Chiesa di Sant’Agostino is the second one biggest church after the Collegiata and likewise properties some spectacular frescoes. Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Ponte is without doubt one of the oldest church buildings in San Gimignano and well-known for its artwork piece, Madonna with Kid 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.
Discuss with the museums & galleries
If you happen to’d like to be informed extra in regards to the tradition and historical past of San Gimignano, you’ll be able to talk over with one of the vital the town’s museums or galleries. Get started with Museo Civico (Civic Museum), situated within the the town corridor of Palazzo Comunale, the place you’ll find out about San Gimignano’s attention-grabbing historical past, governance, and artwork scene. (Your price ticket to the Torre Grossa will get you in right here.)
The Museo Archeologico presentations artwork and artifacts from the Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval classes discovered within the house round San Gimignano. The Herbarium of Santa Fina (or Spezieria di Santa Fina) is about up like an historical pharmacy, exhibiting vessels from the 15-18th Centuries.
Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea is a museum to talk over with for twentieth Century artwork.
San Gimignano additionally has quite a lot of trendy artwork galleries you’ll be able to discover, which makes a fantastic distinction to the traditional feeling of town. Take a look at Galleria Gagliardi or iSculpture for modern sculptures, Galleria Continua for large-scale recent artwork, and Nous Art Gallery for nature-inspired artwork.
Come style San Gimignano’s luscious pink wines!
Pass wine tasting
You by no means have to move a long way to seek out excellent wine in Italy — and that’s doubly true in Tuscany, which is house to one of the most maximum tough reds within the nation. The hills surrounding San Gimignano are house to a couple pretty vineyards you’ll be able to talk over with.
In this 2-Hour Wine & Gourmet Tasting, you’ll sign up for knowledgeable sommelier at a Tuscan vineyard close to San Gimignano as they lead you via a wine tasting. You’ll be informed in regards to the other sorts produced on this winemaking area of Italy and pair your wine tasting with snacks or lunch.
An alternative choice is a wine and food tasting at a family-run, organic farm and winery simply out of doors of San Gimignano. Your talk over with will come with a excursion across the lawn, orchard, winery, olive grove, wine cellar and growing older room. You’ll then pair 8 of the vineyard’s reds, whites and rosés with farm-grown snacks, corresponding to olive oil and native cheeses.
Simply 14 towers stay of San Gimignano’s unique 72.
Excursion Torre e Casa Campatelli or Torre Salvucci Maggiore
Torre Grassa isn’t the one tower on the town, and such a lot of of the towers right here as of late exemplify San Gimignano’s historical significance. Whilst best 14 towers stay, San Gimignano continues to be nicknamed the “New york of Tuscany,” “New york of the Heart Ages,” or “Medieval New york,” due to its well-known skyline of medieval skyscrapers.
Torre e Casa Campatelli (Campatelli Tower Area) is a twelfth Century tower that stands virtually 100 ft tall. These days, you’ll be able to excursion the tower space, the place the Campatelli relations used to are living, and spot unique 18th century furniture all through the flooring.
Or if you wish to have an much more immersive enjoy, take a look at Torre Salvucci Maggiore, which stands about 140 ft prime. This tower is about up as a vertical condominium throughout 11 flooring and is to be had for visitors to stick in in a single day. So long as you don’t thoughts stairs, this might be an improbable position to stick!
Be told in regards to the the town historical past at San Gimignano 1300
Get able to time trip again to 14th Century Tuscany at San Gimignano 1300. This enticing artwork and historical past museum recreates San Gimignano because it was once within the 1300’s.
Inside of you’ll discover a miniature clay reconstruction of all the the town within the 14th Century, in addition to separate dioramas appearing off town existence and the development of the towers.
Excursion guides are to be had to provide an explanation for the town’s historical past and resolution the query of what came about to all of San Gimignano’s towers. Subsequent door you’ll additionally discover a recent artwork gallery and reward store.
Take a look at the native artisans and their shops
All alongside the squares and streets of San Gimignano, you’ll to find native artisans promoting meals pieces, crafts, jewellery, clothes, and extra. In between traveling the towers and church buildings, take a wreck to perform a little buying groceries.
My favourite store in San Gimignano was once Balducci Ceramica. Right here you’ll be able to watch husband and spouse staff Franco Balducci and Esther Vogeli craft their hand-crafted pottery and ceramics, in addition to acquire a work of artwork to take house. You’ll additionally see a few of Franco’s paintings round San Gimignano.
Different extremely rated retail outlets come with Le Torri or Marri e Rossi for leather-based items, Pantani Arte for artwork and crafts, Los angeles Buca di Montauto for connoisseur meals, and Macallè for jewellery.
Is it value buying groceries in San Gimignano? As an Italy trip knowledgeable who LOVES to buy, I might store for fine quality, artisanal pieces in San Gimignano at one of the vital shops indexed above. I might NOT store for inexpensive, mass-market produced souvenirs right here, as the ones might be a lot inexpensive at markets in Florence.
Need a really perfect gelato? You’ll have to attend in line at Dondoli!
Seize a gelato at Gelateria Dondoli
I like monitoring down the most efficient gelato store in Italian cities I talk over with, and in San Gimignano, that’s Gelateria Dondoli! This gelato store is vastly well-liked and has gained loads of awards. It’s additionally comfortably situated, proper on Piazza della Cisterna.
Gelateria Dondoli is easiest recognized for his or her hand-crafted gelato the use of wealthy, native substances. This has ended in some distinctive flavors corresponding to Crema di Santa Fina (with saffron and pine nuts), Champelmo (crimson grapefruit with glowing wine), and combos like cheese and olive, chestnut and rosemary, and pumpkin and chocolate.
If you happen to’re a truly large fan, you’ll be able to even take a gelato class with Sergio Dondoli himself!
I alert you, even though — this position is BUSY and you’ll be able to be expecting lengthy strains, even on drizzly days just like the day I visited. When you have restricted loose time for your day trip to San Gimignano, give yourselves quarter-hour or so that you can wait in line right here. Possibly longer in the summertime.
Need gelato, however don’t have sufficient time to attend? There are a couple of different cafes on Piazza della Cisterna that serve moderate gelato.
See that walled-in park? That’s Parco della Rocca.
Discuss with Parco della Rocca & Fortress at sundown
If you happen to’re in search of the easiest spot to catch a sundown in San Gimignano, head to Parco della Rocca, simply close to Piazza Duomo. This park is called for Rocca di Montestaffoli, a 14th Century fort at the town partitions of San Gimignano. These days, best ruins of the partitions of the fort stay.
But even so being an excellent spot to observe the solar pass down over the huge fields of Tuscany, Parco della Rocca is regularly used for displays and occasions in the summertime.
The park hosts Giostra dei Bastioni, a jousting pageant between medieval knights, and the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Enjoy Los angeles Rocca for wine lovers.
Revel in a dinner with locals
One of the most easiest tactics to find the scrumptious meals and lovely hospitality of Tuscany is through eating with an area. With those studies, you’ll be able to revel in a really perfect meal with excellent corporate or even check out your hand at making an Italian dish.
In this Dining Experience at a Local’s Home you’ll be invited into an area’s house for a personal meal. You’ll revel in a display as your hosts get ready relations recipes proper in entrance of you. As soon as the cooking is completed, you’ll revel in a four-course meal paired with native wines, and take house a memento apron.
Pasta-making talents at all times repay!
Learn how to make pizza or pasta
If you happen to’re going to discover ways to make pizza or pasta, Italy is where to be informed! Whilst pizza isn’t a normal Tuscan dish, should you’re no longer visiting Naples for your commute, Tuscany will just do superb.
On this 2-Hour Pizza Class & Wine Tasting, you’ll head to Tenuta Torciano Vineyard simply out of doors of San Gimignano to learn how to make pizza the old school means. The focal point might be on recent, native substances and finding out from knowledgeable pizza chef. After your cooking category, you’ll benefit from the culmination of your hard work along extra Tuscan specialties and a wine tasting.
Or take a look at this private pasta-making class at a local’s home in San Gimignano. It doesn’t get extra unique than making hand-crafted pasta in an area Italian house! You and your host will get ready 3 forms of pasta and revel in consuming them paired with sauces and native wines.
Pass truffle searching
One of the crucial iconic studies you’ll be able to have in Tuscany goes out on a truffle hunt. Tuscany is without doubt one of the extra dependable areas in Italy for truffle-hunting. It’s onerous to not get excited as your knowledgeable truffle-hunting canine sniffs their option to underground gold!
In this Truffle Hunting with Lunch & Wine Tasting Tour, you’ll sign up for a certified information and educated canine as they hunt for desserts in a wooded area close to San Gimignano. Your information will provide an explanation for how desserts are grown and located in Tuscany and — should you’re fortunate — your canine will hit the jackpot!
After your hunt, you’ll loosen up again at an area vineyard the place you’ll revel in a scrumptious Tuscan lunch, olive oil tasting, and wine tasting led through a sommelier.
Pappardelle cinghiale is a country dish!
Pattern the native delicacies
You’ll consume effectively anyplace in Italy, and that’s very true in San Gimignano! When you have time for a meal right here, make sure you pattern some specialties distinctive to Tuscany and San Gimignano itself.
This a part of Tuscany is huge on cinghiale (CHEEN-ghee-AH-lay) — wild boar. Whilst you’ll be able to to find it everywhere Tuscany, it’s one of the vital 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 on your ribs, in a great way!
You an additionally check out wild boar sausage as a part of a salume platter (a large plate of cured meats served ahead of a meal), and wild boar stew is another choice.
Le Vecchie Mura, within the middle of San Gimignano, is a pleasant spot when you’ve got time for a leisurely lunch.
Different Tuscan specialities come with ribollita (a stew of bread, beans and greens), papa al pomodoro (a bread, bean, and tomato soup), bistecca fiorentina (a huge steak executed uncommon), and naturally, quite a lot of deep, tough Tuscan pink wines.
How A lot Time to Spend in San Gimignano, Italy
San Gimignano is a REALLY small the town, and at the moment, it caters essentially to vacationers’ wishes. Because of this, I feel you best want to spend a couple of hours in San Gimignano.
Only a morning or a day will have to be sufficient time to discover San Gimignano; you’ll want to stretch it to a complete day should you booked a cooking category or wine tasting commute or did some severe gallery-hopping.
Since you best want part an afternoon to revel in San Gimignano, it pairs completely with any other Tuscan the town as the easiest day commute from Florence. I feel that Siena and San Gimignano make a super pair, as they’re shut to one another and feature simple transit connections between them.
And as soon as once more — I truly loved my day trip from Florence to Siena and San Gimignano, which was once simple, well-paced, and left me feeling like I had skilled each puts fairly properly.
The best way to Get to San Gimignano, Italy
The general public talk over with San Gimignano on an afternoon commute from Florence or as a part of an extended street commute round Tuscany.
If you happen to’re making plans an extended Tuscany street commute, you’ll surely wish to hire your personal automobile. Lots of the small little cities and wineries have restricted public shipping connections, and San Gimignano isn’t any exception.
From Florence, it’s an hourlong force to San Gimignano, or you’ll be able to take a bus to town of Poggibonsi (50 mins), then trade to a bus to San Gimignano (20 mins).
From Siena, it’s a 55-minute force to San Gimignano, or you’ll be able to take a bus immediately to San Gimignano (1 hour and 5 mins).
If you happen to’re best visiting San Gimignano on an afternoon commute from Florence, I strongly counsel reserving the Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip from Florence that I took with Walks. It was once a truly nice day and SO a lot more straightforward than navigating the general public shipping.
The place to Keep in San Gimignano, Italy
If you happen to do make a decision to stick in a single day in San Gimignano, listed below are one of the most easiest puts to stick:
Most sensible-rated price range resort in San Gimignano: La Fornace Di Racciano is a family-run B&B on a country assets simply out of doors of San Gimignano. Revel in swimming within the outside pool and admiring the wooden beam ceilings.
Most sensible-rated mid-range resort in San Gimignano: La Locanda di Quercecchio is situated inside San Gimignano and gives loads of unique Tuscan attraction. Some other nice possibility for a mid-range price range is Leon Bianco, situated at the primary sq. in San Gimignano and combining the fashionable with the standard.
Most sensible-rated luxurious resort in San Gimignano: Hotel Bel Soggiorno is centrally situated in San Gimignano and gives stunning perspectives of town and Tuscan nation-state from its terraces and on-site eating place.
Find deals on places to stay in San Gimignano here.
The view from San Gimignano on a grey March day.
Highest Time to Discuss with San Gimignano, Italy
You’ll talk over with San Gimignano year-round — and quite a lot of other people do — however be expecting larger crowds throughout prime season, from past due spring to early fall. In this day and age, it kind of feels like prime season in Tuscany assists in keeping getting longer and longer. There have been wall-to-wall crowds in Florence in March!
However should you’re in search of the optimum time to talk over with Tuscany, I individually love visiting within the fall, particularly mid-to-late October. It’s slightly much less crowded, the temperatures are extra affordable, you get to look some converting leaves, and it’s time for the harvest.
Whilst some other people talk over with San Gimignano within the wintry weather, you will have to know that one of the most companies on the town shut throughout the wintry weather months. You’ll nonetheless revel in your commute — simply know that it’s going to be a lot quieter than standard.
(Ok, it took me months to appreciate lipstick was once on my tooth in the one picture I took of myself within the the town, however what issues is San Gimignano is worthwhile!)
Is San Gimignano Price It?
Completely, San Gimignano is value visiting. It’s a captivating small the town with sufficient to do, see, and consume to entertain you for a couple of hours.
However — and this can be a large however — I wouldn’t counsel development your entire commute round San Gimignano, and even spending a complete day right here. It’s easiest paired with a 2d vacation spot, like my tour from Florence to Siena and San Gimignano.
Make your commute to San Gimignano truly value it through pairing it with a close-by Tuscan town, like Siena, to take advantage of your day commute!
Extra on Florence and Tuscany:
Making plans a Travel to Italy:
Cool Puts in Northern Italy:
3 Weeks in Northern Italy: An Itinerary
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Have you ever been to San Gimignano? Proportion away!
