The medieval charm of San Gimignano
Author: SerenaSan Gimignano is one of the most charming medieval villages in Tuscany and it is placed on a hill of the Val D’Elsa in Siena. This is an Etruscan village that dates back to the X century and that takes its name from the holy bishop of Modena: San Gimignano. During the XIV century, even Dante Alighieri arrived here as a political ambassador.
This wonderful village, that has been included in The world patrimony’s list of UNESCO, is a real masterpiece of the medieval creativity and it shows the relevant italian skill in the architectural and urban domain.
The uniqueness of this small city is due to the presence of 72 towers whose just 14 are still there to be admired. This towers proliferation was a symbol of richness of the local big merchant families.
Panoramic view of San Gimignano
The following ones are the monuments you can’t miss once in San Gimignano:
- Piazza della Cisterna: this square was built during the XIV century and here there were many taverns and emporiums. It is surrounded by palaces that date back to the XIII and the XIV century. You can also admire a fountain built in 1273. Nowadays crossing the two main streets, San Matteo and San Giovanni street, you can find many shops and galleries that still keep their medieval appearance.
Piazza della Cisterna
- The Promenade of the walls that form the urban perimeter built during the XIII century. From this place you can admire a beautiful landscape of all the Tuscan territory.
- Palazzo del Podestà: This palace is places in the Piazza del Duomo (Dome Square) and is closed to the Palazzo del Popolo.
- Museo Civico Palazzo del Popolo: This palace that hosts the Civic Museum is placed in Piazza del Duomo near the Palazzo del Podestà. This palace tower, finished in 1311, is the highest in the city (54 metres) and from its top it is possible to admire a wonderful landscape. The courtyard and the first room are ornamented with ancient frescos. At the first floor among the several paints there is the ” Madonna con i Santi Gregorio e Benedetto” (1511) by the Pinturicchio. Both the museum and the tower are opened everyday.
Palazzo del Popolo
- Museo d’Arte Sacra e Museo Etrusco (The Sacred Art Museum and the Etruscan Museum). Address: Piazza Pecori (Pecori Square). These museums are opened everyday and during the summer you will be welcomed by street players. Here you can find prestigious religious works connected to the local medieval traditions.
- Collegiata o Duomo (Dome). Address: Piazza del Duomo (Dome Square). It is opened everyday. This Romanic church was built during the XII century and its simple façade contrasts with the rich interior ornaments that make it one of the most painted a fresco church in Italy. Its aisles are characterized by frescos representing biblical scenes, 26 episodes of the Old Testament and scenes of the Christ’s life. Other wonderful frescos characterize the baptistery and the chapel of Santa Fina.
La Collegiata or Dome
- Rocca. Address: Piazza Propostura (Propostura Square). This fortress was built in 1353 and just one of its two original towers is now visible. Here you can admire a beautiful landscape on the surrounding the local vineyards.
- Piazza Sant’Agostino (Sant’Agostino Square). Here you can visit the church of Sant’Agostino that was anointed in 1298. Its façade is very simple and the internal structure is characterized by an unique aisle. Here you can admire many frescos representing Sant’Agostino’s life and a laboured marble altar ornamented by bas-relieves representing San Bartolomeo’s life in the chapel dedicated to this saint.
- Church of San Bartolo. This Romanic construction dates back to the XII century.
Staying in Tuscany you can also taste the yummy local wines and dishes: one of the most famous of them is the florentine steak.
… Enjoy your stay in San Gimignano!
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