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Dear Bloggers,

today I would like to tell you about San Gimignano, a small town located in Tuscany, in the province of Siena. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the characteristic “frozen” medieval architecture of its historic center. 

The foundation of this small town is lost in the mists of time. The legend tells that two young patricians, during the Roman times, banned from Rome because of the Catiline conspiracy, took refuge in Valdelsa and built two castles, Pile and Silvia, the future San Gimignano.
Again the legend tells that the name of the town was born because of the saint “San Gimignano” that, during some invasions, saved the city from the barbarians, miraculously appearing on the walls.

The territory of San Gimignano has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Then it was inhabited by the Etruscans and the Romans.

The development of San Gimignano took place mainly in Middle Ages, when it found itself in a geographically strategic location due to the Via Francigena, the major route for the transit of the pilgrims, arriving from France and heading to Rome.

From wherever you arrive, San Gimignano stands on a 300-meters-high hill, with its many towers made of wood and earth (in which people were used to live). Today you can see 13 towers but it is said that, in the ancient times, there were 70, at least one for each wealthy family for showing their economic power.

Entering through an imponent arch you can experience a magical atmosphere that kidnap back in time the ones who visit it: here there is the most beautiful town square, called “Piazza della Cisterna” because of the octagonal well in travertine that occupies the central part.

Surrounding the irregular triangular square, there are a lot of ancient Palaces with elegant windows and high towers which alternate one to each other.

From Piazza della Cisterna you can also enter the Cathedral square, on the left it, and go up the staircase which leads to the entrance of the Duomo (called “Church of Santa Maria Assunta”). Even in this place you can find a lot of old palaces and a particular tower that for a specific period was used as a prison.

Coming down from the steps of the cathedral, on the left there is one more square, “Piazza delle Erbe”, called like this maybe for the market they were used to do in the past, but then officially it was called “Piazza Ugo Nomi”, a nobleman.

The square, in its characteristic shape of a triangle, ends up towards the fortress.
The most interesting thing that can be said, from an architectural point of view, is that its structure is characterized by a simple elegance of the houses facing it and the fact that on its own soil two important medieval towers are raising.

From the perimetric area of San Gimignano you can admire the walls that surround its historic center.
Along the way, accessible from various points, both inside and outside, you can even admire many beautiful landscapes.

You can get there:

By car. From Milan you must take the Highway A1 Milan-Rome, direction south, and exit “Firenze Impruneta” (if arriving from Rome you have to take Highway A1 Rome-Milan, direction north, and exit “Valdichiana”). Then take the road “Firenze-Siena” and exit “Poggibonsi nord” following the signs to San Gimignano (11 km far  away)

By train from the Northof Italy. Take the line Milan-Bologna-Florence or Genoa-Pisa.
- Take the line Firenze-Empoli or Pisa-Empoli.
- Take the line Empoli-Siena (get off at the station “Poggibonsi/San Gimignano”).
- Take the bus directed to San Gimignano.

By train from the South of Italy. Take the line Rome-Florence (you have to change at “Chiusi/Chianciano Terme-Siena”) or the line Roma-Pisa.
- Take the train Chiusi/Chianciano Terme/Siena or the line Pisa-Empoli.
- Take the line Siena-Empoli or Empoli-Siena (get off at the station “Poggibonsi/SanGimignano).
- Take the bus to San Gimignano.

Guenda