Holidays in San Gimignano Italy

Tuscany Must See Tower Town

 

San Gimignano Italy is a unique town in Tuscany making a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is must see in Tuscany.

San Gimignano towers and medieval architecture are the most famous symbols of the town. Add to this magnificent palaces, stone old streets, medieval tournaments and festivals, excellent white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano and you'll get a perfect program for your holidays.

 

Did you know that...?
Interesting Italy Fact

San Gimignano is often called "Italian New York City" or "Manhattan of Tuscany" because of the high towers reminding NYC skyscrapers.

 

Here you will find all you need to know about San Gimignano Italy: the history of building towers in San Gimignano, how to get and what to see in this Medieval village in Tuscany during your holidays, best San Gimignano accommodation - hotels, bed and breakfast and villas.

So why is it all about the towers?..

 

San Gimignano Towers

Why there are so many towers in San Gimignano in Tuscany? Building towers is coming from San Gimignano history.

Historically, wealthy town residents used to spend their money in a funny way - building towers. It was considered that the higher tower a family built the more rich and influential they were.

This custom led to the senseless race of building towers since the towers were never needed for any other useful purpose. The competition has ended very quickly when someone from the local municipality built a tower of 54 meters and forbade building towers higher that 51 meter.

In the old days, the 13th - 14th century, there were more than 70 towers, and there are only 14 towers left to nowadays (some sources give 16).  

These are the existing San Gimignano Italy towers:

San Gimignano Towers

Torre dei Becci

This tower of San Gimignano was built in the 13th century and belonged to the family of successful merchants. Torre dei Becci is located not far from the second important square of San Gimignano - Piazza della Cisterna.

Torre dei Cugnanesi

Torre dei Cugnanesi is one of the highest towers of San Gimignano. It is situated near the Becci Tower and was also built in the 13th century.

Torre del Diavolo

Devil's Tower is located on the north of the square Piazza della Cisterna.

Torri degli Ardinghelli

The two towers Ardinghelli are situated on the square Piazza della Cisterna, on the corner of Cathedral square (piazza del Duomo). The family Ardinghelli got rich due to the successful trade with Lombardy and eastern countries.

Both towers were built in the early 13th century, and for some time, despite the ban on the construction of towers with the height above 54 meters were the highest in the city. Later the height of these San Gimignano towers has been reduced by almost a half.

Torre Rognosa

Rognosa tower - often also called "Clock Tower" - is one of the highest, oldest and best preserved San Gimignano towers. Rognosa tower is situated on the Cathedral square (piazza del Duomo) next to the Old Town Hall palace.

This tower was built about 1200 and it's height is 51 meter. Currently Rognosa tower is the second highest tower of San Gimignano after the Big Tower which is 54 meters high.

Torre Grossa (Torre del Podesta)

Torre Grossa - a Big Tower or a Great Tower - is the tallest tower in San Gimignano located on piazza del Duomo. The Big tower was built in the beginning of the 14 century and that was the only tower of the town with open access to the public.

Torre Grossa can be visited also today, by the same ticket with the San Gimignano City Museum. The tower offers wonderful views over the village and surrounding area.

Torre Chigi

Torri dei Salvucci

Torre di Palazzo Pellari

Casa-Torre Pesciolini

Torre Pettini

Torre Campatelli

Torre Ficherelli o Ficarelli

 

San Gimignano Holidays - What to See in San Gimignano?

Towers in San Gimignano are not the only thing to see. When you are looking for more cultural program this Medieval village in Tuscany can also proudly present its palaces - Palazzo Nuovo del Podesta and Palazzo del Popolo, the Cathedral (il Duomo) and the St. Agostino church.

For when you like these type of sightseeing on your holidays, there is an exhibition of sacred relics and the Museum of Torture (Museo della Tortura e di Criminologia Medievale) with horrifying torture tools from the history.

Piazza Della Cisterna, San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

 

Numerous souvenir shops sell beautiful San Gimignano pottery, ceramics and other products of local Italian artisans.

When visiting San Gimignano Tuscany you have a chance to taste the famous white wine . And your children will love the best in Italy sweets made in San Gimignano.

 

See a full list of Italy San Gimignano Attractions

 

San Gimignano Accommodation - Hotel, B&B or Villa with Pool?

 

Best San Gimignano hotels

San Gimignano Hotel Sovestro

Hotel Casolare le Terre Rose

Hotel L'Antico Pozzo

More Hotels in San Gimignano Tuscany Italy

 

Best San Gimignano Bed and Breakfast

Torraccia di Chiusi

I Coppi San Gimignano B&B

Il Casale del Cotone

More Bed and Breakfast in San Gimignano, Italy

 

How to Get to San Gimignano Italy?

Wondering how to get to San Gimignano Tuscany tower village?

To San Gimignano by Bus

Getting to San Gimignano Italy is easy by bus. You can take a bus from Florence to San Gimignano (12 departures a day) or a bus from Siena to San Gimignano (10 departures a day). Traveling by bus is a very inexpensive way to get there and will cost you about 5 - 8 Euro with a trip duration of about 1,5 hour.

There is also a bus from Poggibonsi to San Gimignano.

To San Gimignano by Train

Getting to San Gimignano by train is less convenient, in my opinion, than by bus since the nearest to San Gimignano train station is the one in Poggibonsi.

Poggibonsi train station is about 13 km away from San Gimignano.

Having arrived to the Poggibonsi train station, from there you can take a bus to San Gimignano Tuscany.

Search for prices and connections in the booking box above.

 

To San Gimignano by Airplane

No, there is no airport in San Gimignano, however if you wish to visit this Medieval village you can fly to Florence Italy and then take a bus or a train to San Gimignano as explained above. Here you can consult all the airports in Tuscany.

To San Gimignano by Car

Travel from Florence to San Gimignano by car will take you about 1 hour. There is only 60 km between these two towns but the trip will go through a small regional road.

Look up at the map below the quickest way to get from Florence to San Gimignano by car.

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

 

Traveling from Siena to San Gimignano by car you will spend about 50 minutes on the way with about 40 km distance between these two towns.

Check the map for road directions from Siena to San Gimignano by car.

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

 

On the Piazza del Duomo you will find a San Gimignano information office where you can get street maps or audio guides, buy bus tickets or book a hotel in San Gimignano.

On request guided walking trips around the town can be organized right there, in the information office from March to October. These San Gimignano walking tours normally take place only on Sundays and are available in both English and Italian language.

Below you will find more guided Siena and San Gimignano tours that can be booked in advance.

 

Take the most exciting Tuscany guided Siena and San Gimignano tours departing from Florence Italy!

Private Tour: Siena and San Gimignano
Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip from Florence
Livorno Shore Excursion: Siena and San Gimignano
Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip from Florence Small Group
Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour
... and more!

 

I wish you a wonderful visit to San Gimignano Italy.

Got an interesting travel to Tuscany experience? Publish it here!

 

The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany

The story of Siena and San Gimignano

San Gimignano Civic Museum

San Gimignano: Town of the fine towers

Secrets of Siena

 

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