San Gimignano

After visiting the beautiful old town of Siena the day before, I was excited to continue on the medieval path through Tuscany to the small town of San Gimignano. Like many towns in the area, it originated as an Etruscan village but was built up into the town it is today during the middle ages. San Gimignano thrived during the 13th and 14th centuries due to its perfect location on the medieval road to Rome and the Vatican. Today, San Gimignano is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval towns in Italy and is a great place to spend a day or two.

Exploring San Gimignano

Just as I found out the day before in Siena, these old medieval towns seem to always be built on top of a hill and the car parks seem to always be down at the bottom of said hills, so again my exploration of the town started with a big up hill walk. Unlike Siena though, there are no modern buildings to walk past first; the whole town is the original old town, built within its old walls.

Walking along one of the main streets

One of the most well known attractions in San Gimignano are its towers. Unlike most other towns in Tuscany, most of its original towers are still standing. In fact there are 14 all up of different heights and sizes, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. Just about anywhere you go in the town, you will have a view of at least one of these towers.

Even when I’m looking for a toilet (WC) I still have great views of a tower

Piazza Duomo

As we walked through the streets we came to Piazza Duomo which of course contains the town’s main Duomo (Collegiate Church), and the magnificent People’s Palace (Palazzo Comunale). The church dates back to the 11th century and is stunning inside. I wasn’t allowed to take any photos of the interior, but it contains some magnificent frescoes and other artwork that is definitely a must see.

The Collegiate Church (Duomo) with the Communal Palace and tower on the left

The People’s Palace (Palazzo Comunale) is now used as the town hall and also contains a museum and art gallery containing some very important pieces. As I walked through the archway under the huge tower I was amazed to walk into the beautifully preserved medieval courtyard of the old palace. It was as if I had gone back in time to the middle ages.

The People’s Palace

The courtyard inside the People’s Palace

An old well inside the courtyard

The old wooden door in the courtyard of the People’s Palace

Piazza della Cisterna

After walking down some more narrow streets between the old buildings we came out into another beautiful little piazza which is actually right next to the Piazza Duomo, the Piazza della Cisterna. Triangular in shape, the piazza is quite small but surrounded by some amazing old buildings and cafes, with a 13th century cistern (like a well or water catchment) in the middle and several of San Gimignano’s famous towers rising high above it. Also, this piazza is home to what apparently is the world’s best gelato! Obviously we had to try it and I can’t say that I disagree with its claim. It is by far the best ice cream that I have ever had!

A vine covered house

Piazza della Cisterna

Offering some of my Gelato to an “armoured knight” outside the Museo Criminale Medioevale

All of that ice cream needs to be worked off, so we took a walk out of the Piazza della Cisterna and found ourselves near the edge of town, looking out across the countryside surrounding San Gimignano. The perfect way to end a great day in an amazing place.

If you’re heading to Tuscany, definitely put San Gimignano on your list.

How to visit San Gimignano

Here is some practical information to help you plan your visit:

Getting There

Renting a car is by far the most convenient way to get to San Gimignano (and explore Tuscany). You can find some good car rental deals here. It is also possible to travel by public transport if a car is not an option. Here’s how to get to San Gimignano from the main cities in Tuscany.

1. By Car:
   • From Florence: San Gimignano is approximately 56 km (35 miles) from Florence. Take the Raccordo Autostradale Firenze – Siena and exit at Poggibonsi Nord, then follow signs to San Gimignano. The drive takes about 1 hour.
   • From Siena: The town is about 50 km (31 miles) from Siena. Take the SR2 towards Florence, exit at Poggibonsi Nord, and follow signs to San Gimignano. The drive takes around 45 minutes.
   • Parking: There are several parking lots around the town’s perimeter, such as Parcheggio Montemaggio, Parcheggio Bagnaia, and Parcheggio Santa Chiara. These are within walking distance of the historic centre.
2. By Train and Bus:
   • From Florence: Take a train to Poggibonsi from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. The journey takes about 1 hour. From Poggibonsi, transfer to a local bus (line 130 or 133) to San Gimignano, which takes about 20-30 minutes.
   • From Siena: Take a train or bus to Poggibonsi, and then transfer to a local bus to San Gimignano. The total travel time is approximately 1.5 hours.
3. By Tour:
   • Numerous tour companies offer day trips from Florence and Siena, which include transportation, guided tours, and sometimes visits to nearby attractions or wineries. This can be a convenient and informative way to visit. You can find some tour options below.