SAN GIMIGNANO
The historic centre of San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The town was founded by the Etruscans in the third century BC and developed as a
market-place during the tenth century, especially thanks to its strategic position on the
Via Francigena – the famous medieval route southward to Rome. It took its original name
from S. Geminiano, the bishop who succeeded in saving it from several Barbarian
invasions in the fourth century. In the Middle Ages, the town served as a
relay location for pilgrims travelling on the Via Francigena. Later, conflicts among
Volterra, Siena and Florence, struggles between two local Guelph and Ghibelline families
(respectively the Ardinghelli and the Salvucci) and the outbreak of the plague in 1348 led
to a drastic decimation of the population. Seventy-two medieval tower-houses were
built in order to display the wealth and power of the patrician families that
owned them, becoming the emblems of San Gimignano. Unfortunately, only fourteen out
of seventy-two have survived, together with the defensive walls that still surround the town.
The city walls we can admire today were erected in 1250, although evidences proof the
first defensive walls dated back to 1000. The main gates are San Giovanni and San
Matteo.
Important sights of the city:
- Piazza della Cisterna: (Cistern Square):Is A triangular square and here are concentrated the most appealing attractions , The central well Cisterna , from where the citizens could take water without leaving the city wìduring the period of fight or plagues, the ancient palazzi.
- Piazza Duomo: Atrapezoidal shape that is dominated by the Collegiata or Duomo (Cathedral),The church was partially built by Giuliano di Maiano (also famous for Santa Fina chapel) and consecrated in 1148. It houses marvellous masterworks by Ghirlandaio and
- Palazzo del Popolo: and two tower-houses: Torre Rognosa and Torre Grossa. . Next to the Collegiata stand the Palazzo del Popolo (thirteenth century),
- Museum of Sacred Art.
- Civic Museum.
- Sant Agostino Church. Is important and beautiful church in San Gimignano is the one dedicated to S. Agostino; it can be easily reached on foot walking through San Matteo gate. The imposing building was built in 1280 in Romanesque style with some Gothic elements.
- The Rocca di Montestaffoli is a medieval fortress which rises in all its glory on a hill, a few feet away from the city centre.
- Santa Fina Museum includes the former conservatory, the Spezieria di Santa Fina (an apothecary’s shop where visitors can admire original ceramic containers).
- Santa Fina is the patron saint of San Gimignano. She reportedly died very young because of a serious illness which got even wors after her mother’s death. Legend has it that all the bells in San Gimignano rang out together to celebrate her death, untouched by anyone but angels. This event was immediately considered to be a miracle, she was sanctified and a hospital (todayturned into a museum) and a chapel inside the cathedral were built in her honour.
- Benozzo Gozzoli.
- Etruscan archaeologic museum.
- Museum of modern Arts.
Typical local products:
She represents patience and faith. San Gimignano is famous for the Vernaccia, a fresh white
wine made from the local vine variety of the same name, and for the nice quality
of Zafferano (saffron) which is exported all over Europe since the Middle Ages.