San Gimignano

“Se v’è alcuno a cui non piaccia la Vernaccia vendemmiata in Pietrafitta, interdetto, maledetto, fugga via dal mio cospetto”.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned for its unmistakable towers, often called the 'Manhattan of the Middle Ages,' San Gimignano is one of the most iconic and visited destinations in Tuscany, filled with countless beauties. Of the original 72 towers, born to symbolize the power and wealth of noble families, enough of them remain to make San Gimignano an unforgettable place. The Torre Rognosa (the most ancient) and the Torre Grossa (the tallest) along with others like the twin Salvucci towers, invite to a vertical contemplation, yet one must not overlook the splendid Duomo, the Cappella di Santa Fina, the Piazza Cisterna, and the Chiesa di Sant’Agostino, just a few of the gems nestled in the historic center. Not to be missed are the Musei Civici (civic museums) housed within the Palazzo Comunale; among its highlights is the magnificent Sala Dante, where the poet delivered a famous political argument in 1300, and where Lippo Memmi’s Maestà is situated.

San Gimignano has always been a waypoint along the Via Francigena, offering visitors numerous villages, fortifications, parish churches, and religious buildings, such as the Pieve di Cellole and the Santuario di Pancole. These historical evidences are scattered across a territory rich in natural wonders, such as the Castelvecchio Nature Reserve and the farms producing the celebrated Vernaccia DOCG wine and the equally prized DOP saffron.

From San Gimignano, you can take three enchanting routes: the “Via Francigena,” the “Via Francigena Mare,” and the “Grand Tour della Vernaccia.” Naturally, the city is also part of the “Grand Tour Valdelsa-Valdicecina” and the starting point for two fascinating off-road paths suitable for gravel and mountain bikes: the “Giro della villa d’Aiano” and the “Giro Pieve di Cellole – Riserva di Castelvecchio”.