Towers of San Gimignano
| San Gimignano remains an essential feature of any visit to central Tuscany, not only on account of its remarkable towers but also the fabulous frescoes and other art works to be seen here. However, during most days San Gimignano is packed with tourists. More than three million now visit the town annually, with sometimes up to 160 tour buses in the bus park at one time. We therefore recommend that you come here in the late afternoon after the crowds thin out, or stay in or nearby San Gimignano, using it as your base for visiting Sienna and elsewhere during the day, and explore our town during the earlier morning and the evening. |
Towers of San Gimignano
| San Gimignano
stands on a hill dominating the valley of the river Elsa.
This hill was the location of a small Etruscan village during the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC)
and San Gimignano began its life as a town in the 10 C, being named
after the Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the
"Via
Francigena", the trading and
pilgrim route that passed through it. This prosperity led to the patronisation of artists whose paintings and sculptures adorn the churches and
monasteries of the town. In 1199, San Gimignano became a free municipality and fought against the Bishops of
Volterra and the surrounding municipalities.
As a result of internal power struggles, San Gimignano eventually divided into two factions, one headed by the Ardinghelli family
(Guelphs) and the other by the Salvucci family
(Ghibellines). On the 8th May 1300 Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the
ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany. In 1348 San Gimignano's population was drastically reduced by the Black Death throwing the
town into a serious crisis which eventually led to its submission to Florence in 1353. In the following centuries San Gimignano
slowly overcame its decline and isolation and its beauty and cultural importance together with its agricultural heritage were
recovered. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11 C and 13
C. The architecture of the city was influenced by
that of Pisa, Sienna and Florence. There are 14 C paintings of the Siennese School to be seen and
15 C paintings of the Florentine School. San Gimignano is well-known for the production of the wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano. This is one of the most well-known white wines in Italy. It is golden yellow in colour and with a rich bouquet, and is suitable as an aperitif and also goes well with fish dishes. This wine has very ancient origins, and there are records of it dating back to the 13 C. Besides traditional Siennese sweets like panforte and ricciarelli, the city also has one of its own, pinolata, which is made with cream custard and pine nuts. In the appropriate season there are also dishes made from mushrooms and aromatic truffles gathered from the nearby hills. |
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 Toscana Casa, specialising in rental of vacation apartments, villas and holiday homes in the enchanting landscape of the Chianti area. Click here for Chianti vacation rental accommodation. |
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Bella Toscana - where to stay, what to do in Tuscany
