Just a few minutes away by car from Villa Vittoria, stands the small medieval walled town, possibly one of the most famous in the Tuscany region: San Gimignano. This borgo is famous for its fascinating medieval architecture and its towers that rise above all other buildings offering a breathtaking view of the city from the surrounding valley.
At the height of its glory, in the mid-1300s, San Gemignani’s patrician families had built around 72 tower-houses as a symbol of their wealth and power. In fact, the town’s foremost families, challenged each other in building the highest tower, so as to exhibit who held the most power. Although only 14 towers have survived, San Gimignano still preserves its feudal atmosphere and appearance, and thanks to its unique skyline it is referred to as the Medieval Manhattan.
A visit to San Gimignano is a total immersion into the 13th century. The historical center of San Gimignano is a real joy to explore rich monuments to visit, elegant palaces and churches to explore, craft shops to browse, a wide selection of restaurants to try and lovely pavement cafes around the piazza’s to sit and watch the world go by.
No matter how short your visit in San Gimignano might be, you must visit the cathedral to admire the marvelous sequence of frescoes that recount stories from the New and Old Testament painted by illustrious artists of the 14th-century Sienese school, and the extraordinary Renaissance jewel, the Chapel of Santa Fina. Then head off to the Museum of Sacred Art next door to admire the exquisite «Madonna of the Rose».
The Duomo is considered one of the best examples of Tuscan Romanic
style and has been classified third in the top ten of the most beautiful
churches in Italy.
Piazza Duomo, is in the heart of the town, also houses the Palazzo del
Podestà, the seat of the Town Hall, and the Torre Grossa, which stands
fifty-four meters high.
Recognized by the 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.
In fact, San Gimignano is not only famous for its architecture and its
magnificent towers, but it is also famous for its Vernaccia wine
production; recognized worldwide, one of Italy’s finest wines. It was even the first Italian wine to bear the title Controlled Designation of Origin (D.O.C.) in 1966, followed by the additional D.O.C.G. (the ‘G’ stands for Guaranteed) in 1993. best appreciated chilled, while admiring the romantic sunset behind the rolling hills of the gorgeous Tuscan countryside!
Thanks to the many artists and intellectuals that today like in the past,
chose this land and produce here their generous crafts we urge you to join in on the activities and events of unforgettable magical moments,
like the Medieval festival in June and the Opera and Music Festival in July
-August.
VISIT SAN GIMIGNANO
written by: Angelo Battigelli