Explorations of a small medieval town in the foothills of Tuscany.
It was a rainy December day when I visited San Gimignano, not far from Siena, Italy (a huge tourist draw). San Gimignano is one of those Tuscan hill towns that screams Tuscany. You can’t get any more Tuscan than this town. It’s made of stone and brick, full of Tuscan architecture and of course, surrounded by wine country. Therefore, I had to visit.
San Gimignano started its days as an Etruscan village in the 3rd century BCE. It was later taken over by the Romans. The town was named for Bishop Germinianus, who saved the town from destruction by the Huns. A church was built and so a community was born.
During the Middle Ages, San Gimignano was a major stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Rome and that still reigns true today as tourists stop here on their way to and from Rome.
I was personally drawn to the towns surviving medieval architecture and there is a lot of it. Much of the town is still preserved from that time. No wonder they made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano has even been nicknamed the Town of Fine Towers, for all the tower houses that still stand to this day.
I sloshed through pouring rain to explore this town. It was so worth it. This is what I found.
The super impressive gate into the walled town.
Via San Giovanni, the first look at the inside of San Gimignano and it was spectacular.
This town made me feel like I was walking into the past. It is amazing that these buildings have been standing for so long. Someone 500 years ago would have seen the same view while walking down this street.
I just thought the Romanesque building on the left was awesome. It may have been part of some church at one point.
The Tuscan countryside. It was rainy but it was still a gorgeous view.
Looking back at the skyline of San Gimignano, with two of its towers.
Piazza della Cisterna, named for its town well. I absolutely loved the buildings here.
One of the churches I found, Sant’Agostino, which was built in the 13th century and is full of amazing frescoes.
Just one of those amazing frescoes.
So many towers. There is actually 14 in this small little town.
Piazza del Duomo is surrounded by towers and the town Duomo (cathedral).
Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta (the Collegiate Church of the Assumption of Mary), a very long name for the Duomo. It was built in the 12th century and is also covered in frescoes dating from the 13th-15th centuries.
By the way, I love ceilings and this one was great.
The interior of the Duomo is covered with frescoes, like this one over the top of the front doors.
My favorite chapel in the church.
Like I said, covered with frescoes.
There is also a town museum (which is great) with a tower you can climb. It’s not hard of a climb, although I did go up there during the pouring rain, but it was worth it.
San Gimignano is a fun and easy excursion from the city center of Siena by bus. Perfect day trip to be honest.
Check out the rest of my Wandering series!
How many vowels does a town name need?