San Gimignano: a pearl few miles from Versilia

In the heart of Tuscany, a few miles from the Tyrrhenian coast of Versilia, there is an ancient village that you should absolutely visit: San Gimignano. The town is about 1hour and 45 minutes from the well-known resort town of Forte deiMarmi, making it an ideal route to do in one day without any hassle.

This beautiful village, in the province of Siena, is located halfway between Siena and the Florentine capital. It is curious how San Gimignano, because of its tower houses built during the medieval ages that are 74 in number to be precise, is now called the Manhattan of the Middle Ages. Each of these towers belonged to a noble family of those times. Unfortunately, there are only 14 towers left today. But the charm of the village still remains intact.

If you want to visit the country, here are some of the attractions that should not to be missed! 

The Cathedral of San Gimignano is one of them. Despite its simple appearance on the outside, one can appreciate its grandeur through its frescoed walls and works of art of great value.

A short walk from here will take you to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, through Piazza delleErbe. From this fortress, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the towers of the city and of the Val d’Elsa. Although not much is left of the monument, the panoramic point attracts tourists from all over the world every year who come here to admire the incredible view.

Inside the Rocca, there is the Wine Museum, where technology allows for an immersive experience giving a 360-degree insight into the process of production of local wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Here, you will not only find 16 tasting labels of this wine, but also a great variety of other local wines. 

If you are in San Gimignano, you cannot miss Palazzo del Popolo where the Civic Museum of the city is located. This ancient palace is popular not only for its historical significance but also because it leads to the highest tower of the city, Torre Grossa. If you are lucky and the sky is clear, you can admire the Apuan Alps and also, Mount Amiata from here.

Also, not to be missed is Piazza della Cisterna which preserves an ancient octagonal-shaped cistern that dates back to 1273 AD in the center of its square. The square, considered the most beautiful in San Gimignano, is surrounded by ancient buildings and towers. In this square today, there are shops and taverns that still breathe the ancient charm of the medieval city.

San Gimignano is indeed a small jewel set in the hills near the beautiful city of Siena that will allow you to savor the ancient medieval history of the region through medieval towers, old buildings and a lot of art.

If you want to visit San Gimignano, discover our vacation homes in nearby Versilia!