San
Gimignano
Located
north-west of Siena and south-west of Florence, the astonishing and beautiful
old walled hilltop town of San Gimignano `delle Belle Torri' in Southern
Tuscany displays one of the best-known skylines in Italy. Set amongst
cornfields, olive groves and vineyards in the verdant Val d'Elsa with its
14 remaining towers (there were once 72), symbols of the wealth of the
town's medieval families, the place took its name from the Bishop of
Modena who is said to have repelled Atilla and his Huns.
To walk into San Gimignano on a pulsating hot July afternoon, when the
shutters are down as people take their siestas, is an extraordinary
experience. The tallest tower, at 54 m (177 ft), and the only one that
can be climbed, is the Torre Grossa, which has spectacular panoramic
views. The Palazzo del Popolo has a charming courtyard with frescoes on
the walls and in the museum upstairs you can enjoy Memmo di Filipuccio's
wedding scene frescoes.
The thirteenth-century church of Sant'Agostino has a beautiful fresco
cycle by Benozzo Gozzoli, depicting the life of the saint, as well as an
altarpiece by Pollaiuolo.
Wander through the town to the Rocca, the old ruined fortress, and walk
up the valley to the Baize, a deep ravine where, since
the middle ages, churches and other buildings have fallen into the
depths. Do not miss climbing the Torre Grossa for stunning panoramic
views. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can
get there by bus from Florence or Siena.
