San Gimignano: Tour the Treasure of Central Tuscany
ChiantiSan Gimignano - "delle Belle Torri" - of the Fine Towers is now a UNESCO world heritage site. San Gimignano is a completely preserved hill town thought to be founded by Etruscans. Your first view of this remarkable place will be the stunning sight of the remaining 14 towers of the original 76, standing tall on the skyline.
After walking there is plenty of time to visit and explore San Gimignano’s historical sights, climb the “great tower” built in 1311, explore the quiet twisting lanes or sit on the Duomo steps and observe life passing by.
In each Tuscan Region our walking routes will take us on or through areas of historical significance. Monteriggioni, the Via Francigena and Certaldo all have fascinating histories.
Monteriggioni is just one of the medieval town we explore. It is a beautifully preserved medieval fortified village, built on a hillock. The walls that circle Monteriggioni date from the 13C and are the largest of their kind in Tuscany to have survived pretty much intact. The wall has fourteen towers. The main street crosses the village, joining the two gates in the walls. A pretty Romanesque church faces onto the piazza.
The Sienese transformed Monteriggioni into an imposing Fortress in 1213. This was to protect Siena’s north boundary in the wars against Florence. In the 14C there were about 600 inhabitants inside the walls.
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For more information on San Gimignano visit UNESCO sight
www.sitiunesco.it
For more information on Monteriggioni
en.wikipedia.org
For more information on Certaldo
www.certaldo-info.com
For more information on Via Francigena
www.viafrancigena.com
History of San Gimignano
San Gimignano rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. It was once a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC). It began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. Such prosperity led to the flourishing of works of art that adorn the churches and monasteries. In 1199 it became a free municipality and fought against the Bishops of Volterra and the surrounding municipalities. Due to internal power struggles it eventually divided into two factions one headed by the Ardinghelli family (Guelphs) and the other by the Salvucci family (Ghibellines). On the 8th May 1300 Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the Ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany. In 1348 San Gimignano's population was drastically reduced by the Black Death Plague throwing the city into a serious crisis which eventually led to its submission to Florence in 1353. In the following centuries San Gimignano overcame its decline and isolation when its beauty and cultural importance together with its agricultural heritage were rediscovered. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries. The architecture of the city was influenced by Pisa, Siena and Florence. There are 14th century paintings of the Sienese School to be seen and 15th century paintings of the Florentine School.
For more information on San Gimignano
www.sangimignano.com
For more information on Via Francigena
www.viafrancigena.com
Accommodation
Our accommodation for the seven days of exploring Central Tuscany is within the medieval walls of San Gimignano. This delightful hotel is in a quiet lane with a peaceful garden built above the street. Each room has its own modern facilities and great views over the garden to the towers of San Gimignano or the roof tops towards Porta San Giovanni. It is just a minute away from the central Piazza Duomo and Cisterna. After a good day's walking you can sit and cool your feet on grass while looking at the towers and listening to the bells. Early morning and late afternoon strolls through the streets and quiet lanes is also a perfect way to discover and appreciate the town.
Wine of San Gimignano
Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white wine is the most well known variety outside of Sangiovese. With its origins around the middle ages, the soil composition of the vineyards of San Gimignano favours white wine with tufa and yellow sandstone mixed with clay.
In part of the old fortress, Rocca di Montestaffoli is the Museum of Wine. It is well worth a visit even if just to enjoy the panoramic view.
For more information on the Museums of San Gimignano including the Wine Museum www.asangimignano.com
One of Via Walking’s San Gimignano tours winds along a cool leafy lane way past the fattoria of Teruzzi and Puthod.
For more information
www.teruzzieputhod.it
For more information on Vernaccia wine
www.italianmade.com
www.vernaccia.it
Tuscan Food in San Gimignano
San Gimignano has a wide variety of establishments to sample the local Cuisine. Start the day by visiting the local bars serving delicious coffee and pastry. For the rest of the day there are many restaurants, cafes and Enotecas specializing in wine, olive oil, cheeses, meats and local produce to visit.
San Gimignano also has two world class gelato and ice cream shops in Piazza Cisterna. Gelateria di Piazza “Team Italia World Ice Cream Champions 2006” is one of these. Time is needed to gaze at the mouthwatering delights before making a decision.
To sit outside in the Piazza Cisterna or the main street after a walk, enjoying a bowl of La Ribollita Tuscan bean soup, is not to be missed. “Thick nourishing full of vegetables, beans herbs and olive oil ladled over the local unsalted bread. “It was traditionally made in large quantities on Friday, the fast day, so that it could be reheated on Saturday. It literally means reboiled.”
Quote “The Concise Gastronomy of Italy by Anna Del Conte”
It is worth while leaving the main street to find the smaller local restaurants and a food shops.
For more information on San Gimignano restaurants
maps.google.com.au
San Gimignano Shopping
For shopping enthusiasts you will not be disappointed. From a specialist knife shop, ceramics decorated with traditional Tuscan designs, linen products, prints, a jeweller who specializes in the repousse’ technique to alabaster items. Again try wandering away from the main street to find the local artists collective shop behind the Duomo, Louise who combines her own clothing label retail outlet with her sculpture partner in an interesting gallery space at Via Del Castello 14 just off Piazza Cisterna.
For more info on Alabaster
www.waytuscany.net
toscana-toskana.de
Useful notes on San Gimignano
- An internet café in Piazza Duomo is open six days a week if you need to keep in touch with home. There is also an internet newsagent outside Porta san Matteo
- EFTPOS machines are available to access your bank account. In Piazza Cisterna and Piazza Duomo as well as the main streets of via San Giovanni and via San Matteo.
- There is a Co-op for groceries if you need additional snacks, tissues etc. beyond Port .San Matteo. The main medieval entrance into San Gimignano. A fruit shop is also out side this gate.
- San Gimignano has very good delicatessen that will make your heart melt and make you wish you could take everything home.
- Both Pharmacies and Doctors are available. In via San Matteo tucked into one of the magnificent buildings is a fully staffed ambulance and first aid centre.
- There is one Laundromat. A travel clothes line plus a couple of blow up coat hangers are very worthwhile taking with you.
- We carry our picnic lunch some days so space is needed in your day pack along with room to peel off unwanted clothes as the day heats up, and of course room for your own water supply. The local water is fine to drink and you can refill your bottle each day if you choose.
- If hay fever is an issue for you we strongly advise carrying antihistamine. Perhaps two varieties in case your regular brand does not overcome the prolific and beautiful Tuscan spring blooms.
- Shops generally open between 8.30am and 1.00pm and from 4:00pm to 8.00pm. A civilised siesta takes place in the missing hours. Many of the shop in the main street do stay open all day.
- We prefer to walk in shorts and these are acceptable at our lunch time restaurants. The choice is yours, long pants or shorts what ever you feel comfortable in.
- It’s not a bad idea to refresh your memory by rechecking our “What to bring and Wear” section of the web site. One item that is often forgotten is a light rain coat. Yes, it does rain in Tuscany at times.
- For a healthy choice for breakfast bring your own muesli or nuts as the Italian breakfast is fantastic but limited.
Via Walking. 534 Park Street,
Princes Hill, 3054 Victoria, Australia
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m: +61 417 590 535 e: sue@viawalking.com.au
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