There’s no doubt that this time, we are talking about one of the front runners of Tuscany tourism. That’s why it should be on anyone’s bucket list—at least for a day visit, if not for more. Because of that, we have collected a few facts about this charming little town in this “San Gimignano—The Practical Guide.”
To conclude, we hope to ignite your travel lust for Tuscany or at least relive your memories for all those who have already visited it.
Table of Contents
Short intro into San Gimignano
Firstly, San Gimignano is a small walled village about halfway between Florence and Siena. As you probably know, it is famous for its charming medieval architecture and the towers that rise above all the other buildings. They offer an impressive cityscape, especially when viewing from the surrounding valley. Even though this fantastic village suffers from mass tourism, it retains its medieval charm.
Secondly, most visitors come here on a day tour from the more significant tourist Mekas such as Pisa, Siena, and Florence. Nevertheless, we should stress that San Gimignano should be discovered slowly. After all, the best way to enjoy this town’s uniqueness is to wander through its streets and squares. Finally, visiting during the low season and on weekends is better.
Most importantly, this little gem is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a “World Heritage Site.” Why? Probably because walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages. In addition, here you can quickly sample what the city had to be like over seven hundred years ago.
The best way to start your visit is from the Cathedral (Duomo). Once here, you can try cappuccino, ice cream (gelato), or a glass of local wine that San Gimignano is famous for (Vernaccia di San Gimignano). Then, you can allow yourself to get lost in the maze of the medieval lanes. On the other hand, you can sit down in one of its taverns.
Finally, we must stress that San Gimignano has excellent accommodations. But if you want to experience Tuscan magic in its whole spirit, stay in the city’s surrounding countryside, either in a guest house or an agriturismo. Visitors can enjoy delicious local food, a swimming pool, a tranquil setting, and other travelers’ company. To conclude, we can promise you will win the jackpot every time, as each village has its medieval charm.
Coming to San Gimignano
By car.
We will start this part of the San Gimignano guide with the simplest way to reach this gem: arriving by car.
San Gimignano is centrally located in the major cities of Tuscany. So, if you’re staying anywhere near here, you can make a day trip. For instance, there is an hour’s car ride from Florence, a little over half an hour from Siena, and a little over an hour from Pisa.
Although it represents the fastest and easiest way to get here, it has downsides. Firstly, remember that traffic within the city is strictly limited and all the parking structures are outside the city walls, at the base of the hill. Particularly in August, don’t be surprised if it’s tough to find parking, even with all the parking lots around the town!
By train
Most importantly, there is no train station in San Gimignano. The nearest one is in Poggibonsi (35 km away). So take the train to Poggibonsi from either Florence or Siena. You can find more information on Trenitalia.
After that, you can catch a bus. More about that in the following paragraph.
By bus.
One of the simplest ways to get to the city is to take the bus that connects San Gimignano, Siena, and Florence. However, don’t forget that you will likely have to change buses in Poggibonsi.
By plane.
The nearest airports are Pisa and Florence. From there, you can rent a car or take one of the bus lines.
Food & Drink in San Gimignano
The world champion in ice cream
Italy is the queen of ice creams, but its heart is in San Gimignano.
Namely, the longest queues in San Gimignano aren’t for a church or a museum but for the modern artisans at Gelateria Dondoli, more often known as Gelateria “di Piazza.” The two-time world champion of the Ice Cream World championships.
Located in the central Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano, Gelateria Dondoli is known worldwide and visited by many celebrities.
By now, his early creations have become famous: Crema di Santa Fina® (cream with saffron and pine nuts), Champelmo® (pink grapefruit and sparkling wine), Dolceamaro® (cream with aromatic herbs), and Vernaccia Sorbet enhance his already highly extensive menu. It gets even better; his ice cream parlor is mentioned in the most crucial world guides and is continuously visited by national and international television.
Ultimately, we advise you to put this place on your bucket list.
Wine tasting
Whatever the reason for your visit, you can’t leave San Gimignano without trying at least two of its most famous and flavorful products. The first is a prize-winning wine, Vernaccia, one of the most ancient wines in Italy. It’s as old as the city and was among the first to obtain the label “Denomination of Controlled Origin “(DOC). Even Dante speaks of it in his Divine Comedy when he refers to seeing those being punished for gluttony, Pope Martin IV, who couldn’t get enough of Bolsena eels drenched in Vernaccia.
That’s why we suggest you visit the nearby Chianti region too, and of course, taste the favor of the local wines.
Local cuisine
The second product that can’t be missed is rare, tasty, and colorful! It’s saffron, the “Zafferano Purissimo di San Gimignano”. Since ancient times, it’s been a costly spice. What’s even more, in the Middle Ages, it became fundamental to the city’s economy because of its value. However improbable it may seem, in the year 1220, the town paid part of its debt in saffron!
But what does saffron have that’s so special? Its unequaled purity comes from the fact that it has been cultivated by absolutely natural methods, with no trace of chemicals. Moreover, only the original product can carry the label “Zafferano Purissimo di San Gimignano.”
This brings us to the following subjects. Namely, where to eat? If you want to eat well and don’t care about prices, we recommend the local restaurant Da Pode, which serves exquisite local cuisine.
Always remember, when you look at the menu, less means more. Therefore, do not eat at a restaurant whose menu is written in six languages. These are for tourists. However, you will probably want to eat local food, so we advise you to dine in a restaurant with a menu in one or two languages max. That’s for local people. But if you are a budget traveler, you can try dining outside the city in nearby villages or Agriturismi.
What to see in San Gimignano
Twin central squares — Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo — are the heart of the town.
The best thing is to explore the secrets on foot. Even though San Gimignano is a small town, it is still a heart of artistic beauty hidden around every corner. Firstly, it is protected by 12th-century walls. Secondly, its heart is the intersection of the two main streets between two marvelous squares crowned by towers and tower houses built to show off the power of the aristocratic merchants and bankers. Ultimately, you cannot miss the Loggia del Battistero, the Museum of Sacred Art, and, on the same ticket, the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta.
You can reach the city museum from Palazzo del Popolo, which faces onto the Piazza del Duomo. The ticket is valid for all the other museums and allows you to admire frescoes, sinopias (preliminary drawings for frescoes), and royal apartments, such as the one in which Dante gave a speech in the year 1300. But the most challenging part is the climb up Torre Grossa: 200 stairs between the first and second floors to catch your breath and enjoy the view of a forest of towers and rooftops overlooking the countryside.
If your strength hasn’t abandoned you, you’ll make it a little north of the center of town with one final exertion to see the Romanic church of Saint Augustine. Additionally, you have the possibility of spending some time outside the city. Namely, San Gimignano’s surroundings offer some surprises. For instance, you can enjoy the peace of the church of San Vivaldo, which is about 15 km away. It was founded in the middle of a forest by a disciple of Saint Francis. Secondly, there’s also Sacro Monte, where, in the 16th century, the Franciscan brothers created miniatures of all the sacred sites of Jerusalem.
And for gastronomic enthusiasts, there’s the area of Chianti, with its hills and exceptional wines—it’s not that far away!
Outdoor Activities
Wildflower Walks & Cycling
Several fine rural walks around San Gimignano, through the vines and olive groves approaching the town on all sides or among the wildflowers in spring and early summer.
The ancient pilgrim route Via Francigena passes through San Gimignano to Monteriggioni. This 30 km leg of the trail is among the most beautiful stretches. Take a good trail map, or contact the San Gimignano tourist office to book a guide.
San Gimignano by Bike is an alternative way to discover the town and nearby countryside. The tour lasts half a day and ends with a well-deserved gelato in Piazza Cisterna.
We came to the end of this “San Gimignano – the practical guide” article. Did you like this place? Let’s hear your opinions now. Leave a comment below to inspire future travelers.
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