San Gimignano is an Italian walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. The town is sometimes fondly known as 'the Town of Fine Towers' and is renowned for preserving more than a dozen hill towers that were either constructed using the Romanesque or Gothic architectural design. The center of San Gimignano is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site.
San Gimignano is an Italian walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. The town is sometimes fondly known as 'the Town of Fine Towers' and is renowned for preserving more than a dozen hill towers that were either constructed using the Romanesque or Gothic architectural design. The center of San Gimignano is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site.
Before you embark on the tour of the town, you need to know the following about it.
1. History
In the 3rd Century BC, the site where the town is built was a small Etruscan village. It would later evolve into a town called Silvia when two patrician brothers, Muzio and Silvio, fled Rome for Valdelsa and built two castles, Mucchio and Silvia. The town would be named Silvia but this would be changed to San Gimignano in 450 Ad when the followers of Attila the Hun were stopped by Saint of Modena, Bishop Geminianus from destroying the castles.
2. Climate
Just like the Tuscanian region in which the town is based, the town boasts a subtropical climate characterized with warm summers and dry humid winters. It is best visited during the months of April to September - especially for those who love the outdoors.
3. Attractions
Among the most popular tourist attractions in San Gimignano includes; Collegiate of San Gimignano, Piazza Della Cisterna, Piazza Della Erbe, Basillica Della collegiata and many more. Basically, the town of San Gimignano is an ancient town with a lot of history to explore.
4. The Towers of San Gimignano
The town is not called the town of fine towers for nothing. Among the most popular towers in the town include;
Campanile della Collegiata
Torri degli Ardinghelli
Torre dei Becci
Torre Campatelli
Torre Chigi, (1280)Torre dei Cugnanesi
Torre del Diavolo
Torre Ficherelli or Ficarelli
5. Beware the cobblestones
Like most Italian old towns, the town of San Gimignano is home to some ancient streets that feature cobblestones. You are well advised to wear some hiking boots. This is not a place to explore on sandals.
If I were you, I would try and be the first among my friends to visit the town. This will automatically earn you some bragging rights on the knowledge of Tuscany.