San Gimignano is a pretty medieval walled city in Tuscany, Italy, famous for its historic centre with beautiful towers (inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List) and great art. It is small enough to be effectively visited as a day trip from nearby cities like Siena and Florence, but it has a different atmosphere at night that many travelers find it worthwhile to experience.
The city is featured in the video game Assassin's Creed II.
The Piazza del Duomo, the town church's square, is surrounded by thousand-year-old towers. The town's 14 Towers are all that remain of the original 72, which were owned by the rich to stay safe when the town was sacked. After Florence took control of San Gimignano, most of them were torn down. The Piazza della Cisterna is a beautiful piazza with an old stone well (no longer used) in the middle. This is where a Thursday market gathers.
- SanGimignano1300, Via Berignano n. 17, +39 327 439 5165. 10:00-19:00. The visit to the museum is an ideal opportunity to learn about the architectural, social, and historical aspects of the Middle Ages in Tuscany. The museum has a massive reconstruction of the city of San Gimignano dated between the 13th and 14th century. Audioguides available. Adults €3, children free.
- Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, Piazza Duomo, 2. M-F 09:30-19:30, Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 12:30-17:30. The nearest to a duomo (cathedral) in this small city. Beautiful and contains a splendid series of frescoes on Old and New Testament subjects. €3.50, €5.50 combo ticket includes Religious Art Museum.
- Museo Civico and Torre Grossa. Apr-Sep 09:30-19:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-17:00. The Museo Civico (civic painting gallery/museum) in the Palazzo Pubblico is small but has beautiful art inside. Includes Torre Grossa, which is the tallest tower in the city at 60 m (200 feet). You can climb the tower and get a good view of the city. €9, €2 audioguides, €13 pass includes admission to the Duomo.
- Porta San Giovanni. A gate at the southern end of the town's 13th-century walls.
- Sant'Agostino. English mass at Sunday at 11:00, open daily 07:00-12:00 & 15:00-19:00. The church of Sant'Agostino in the northeastern part of the city contains a set of great frescoes on the life of St. Augustine by Benozzo Gozzoli and friendly, English-speaking friars to tell you about the church. Free, but €0.50 inserted into a coin box will light up a painting.
- Rocca di Montestaffoli. Literally, a big rock, but a ruined fortress in actuality. A panorama of the Tuscan countryside can be seen from it.
SanGimignano1300, Via Berignano n. 17, +39 327 439 5165. 10:00-19:00. The visit to the museum is an ideal opportunity to learn about the architectural, social, and historical aspects of the Middle Ages in Tuscany. The museum has a massive reconstruction of the city of San Gimignano dated between the 13th and 14th century. Audioguides available. Adults €3, children free.
Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, Piazza Duomo, 2. M-F 09:30-19:30, Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 12:30-17:30. The nearest to a duomo (cathedral) in this small city. Beautiful and contains a splendid series of frescoes on Old and New Testament subjects. €3.50, €5.50 combo ticket includes Religious Art Museum.
Museo Civico and Torre Grossa. Apr-Sep 09:30-19:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-17:00. The Museo Civico (civic painting gallery/museum) in the Palazzo Pubblico is small but has beautiful art inside. Includes Torre Grossa, which is the tallest tower in the city at 60 m (200 feet). You can climb the tower and get a good view of the city. €9, €2 audioguides, €13 pass includes admission to the Duomo.
Porta San Giovanni. A gate at the southern end of the town's 13th-century walls.
Sant'Agostino. English mass at Sunday at 11:00, open daily 07:00-12:00 & 15:00-19:00. The church of Sant'Agostino in the northeastern part of the city contains a set of great frescoes on the life of St. Augustine by Benozzo Gozzoli and friendly, English-speaking friars to tell you about the church. Free, but €0.50 inserted into a coin box will light up a painting.
Rocca di Montestaffoli. Literally, a big rock, but a ruined fortress in actuality. A panorama of the Tuscan countryside can be seen from it.
- Thursday is market day in Piazza del Duomo
- Tourist Information is also in the Piazza del Duomo, which is open March to October 09:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, November to February 09:00-13:00 & 14:00-18:00. They offer free maps, a room-booking service, bus tickets, a free bag check, & €5, 2-hour audioguides for exteriors only. This is also where a walking tour starts from at 15:00 daily except Sunday, in English & Italian, March-October, for €15
- If you want to escape the crowds of tourists, there is a footpath that runs around the outside of town that is peaceful and affords some nice views of the countryside. It doesn't seem to go all the way around town, but it's long enough to work up a good thirst. Look for the signs with an icon of a hiker.
Thursday is market day in Piazza del Duomo
Tourist Information is also in the Piazza del Duomo, which is open March to October 09:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, November to February 09:00-13:00 & 14:00-18:00. They offer free maps, a room-booking service, bus tickets, a free bag check, & €5, 2-hour audioguides for exteriors only. This is also where a walking tour starts from at 15:00 daily except Sunday, in English & Italian, March-October, for €15
You will notice shops where free wine tastings are offered. If you consider the wines a good value, buy some bottles. You may find the wine expensive.
- Pantani Arte, Via San Matteo, 74 / Via San Martino, 32, +39 3497743726. Two small studios full of the works of two brothers that use wood, watercolor and oil painting to tell the stories and carry on the ancient tradition of their region, Tuscany.
- Galleria iSculpture, Via San Giovanni 56, +39 0577 940207. Contemporary art gallery featuring only art works of 24 Italian sculptors.
Pantani Arte, Via San Matteo, 74 / Via San Martino, 32, +39 3497743726. Two small studios full of the works of two brothers that use wood, watercolor and oil painting to tell the stories and carry on the ancient tradition of their region, Tuscany.
Galleria iSculpture, Via San Giovanni 56, +39 0577 940207. Contemporary art gallery featuring only art works of 24 Italian sculptors.
The main piazzas are crowded, but there are small alleys which have much cheaper restaurants.
- Trattoria Chiribiri, Piazza della Madonna, +39 0577-941-948. Daily 11:00 to 23:00. Cheap, homemade pastas and desserts. Cash only.
- La Mangiatoia, +39 0577-941528. W-M 12:30-14:30 & 19:30-22:30. Wild game served by candlelight. Outdoor seating, near Porta San Matteo at Via Mainardi.
- La Grotta Ghiotta, +39 0577-942-074. Soup and sandwiches for there or to go, open daily 12:00 to 22:00, on Via Santo Stefano.
- Locanda di Sant'Agostino, +39 0577-943141. On a square at Sant'Agostino Church. Cheap & cheery for lunch & dinner daily (closed January), usually filled with locals and away from all the daytrippers.
- Co-op Supermarket is great for picnic food, open Monday to Saturday 08:30 to 20:00, closed Sunday, at parking lot below Porto San Giovanni
Trattoria Chiribiri, Piazza della Madonna, +39 0577-941-948. Daily 11:00 to 23:00. Cheap, homemade pastas and desserts. Cash only.
La Mangiatoia, +39 0577-941528. W-M 12:30-14:30 & 19:30-22:30. Wild game served by candlelight. Outdoor seating, near Porta San Matteo at Via Mainardi.
La Grotta Ghiotta, +39 0577-942-074. Soup and sandwiches for there or to go, open daily 12:00 to 22:00, on Via Santo Stefano.
Locanda di Sant'Agostino, +39 0577-943141. On a square at Sant'Agostino Church. Cheap & cheery for lunch & dinner daily (closed January), usually filled with locals and away from all the daytrippers.
Co-op Supermarket is great for picnic food, open Monday to Saturday 08:30 to 20:00, closed Sunday, at parking lot below Porto San Giovanni
- Florence, the city of the Brunelleschi Dome of the Duomo, the Ghiberti Doors of the Baptistery, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, the Bargello, the Ponte Vecchio and so many other things to see and do
- Siena, a larger walled hill city than San Gimignano though much smaller than Florence, is the city of the Palio and the Piazza del Campo, with its own spectacular Duomo and Baptistery and unique style of art
- Volterra, another of the ancient Etruscan cities, with Etruscan, ancient Roman and Medieval sights
- Monteriggioni, the small walled hill town that was Siena's diehard Medieval ally in the wars with Florence