You have probably heard your traveling friends rave about the Italian town of San Gimignano, how it is a preserved medieval village in Tuscany, and how it is a “must-see” location in Italy. Now that I have been there myself I totally agree with all of the above and more.
As one of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tuscany, San Gimignano is a walled, well-preserved, medieval town located high on a hilltop in central Tuscany, 35 miles southwest of Florence. Its walls date back to the 13th century and some of its cobblestoned streets and piazzas date back to the ninth century.
As I was walking around San Gimignano, exploring its narrow streets, I felt like I had been transported back in time to a place that existed long ago. Certainly this place is a photographer’s dream, with wonderful views around every corner. San Gimignano truly retains the authenticity of its age, yet real people live and work here today.
Known as the town of beautiful towers, or cittá dalle belle torri, San Gimignano dominates the landscape with its remaining 14 medieval towers. The town originally had 72 towers, many of which were built as part of the homes of the wealthy, but wars and invasions have reduced the number to 14 which stand today.
The best way to explore San Gimignano is on foot as it is a very walkable town. Of course the streets are steeply inclined, so it was good exercise for me. The piazzas were also fun spots especially since I enjoy people watching. Piazza del Duomo is the main piazza in San Gimignano and includes the most important buildings as well as the two tallest towers.
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