San Gimignano - Tuscany’s Town of Towers and Flowers
There’s really no better (or more popular) Italian holiday destination than Tuscany. Holidays mean different things to different people, and as one of the diverse regions in Italy, Tuscany has a wealth of activities and attractions for everyone. Whether you’re longing for sparkling beaches, majestic castles, and museums filled with art and artefacts, or marketplaces filled with handcrafted treasures, scrumptious delicacies, and ruins of ancient civilisations (just to name a few options), you’re sure to find what you want in one of the fascinating towns that make up this amazing region.
In terms of the beauty of the countryside and the charm of a quaint medieval town, San Gimignano should definitely be part of your itinerary.
Visiting San Gimignano
In Tuscany, holidays mean new experiences each day. Sometimes, on extended journeys, there can be a sense of repetition, of one town blurring into the next. Even from a distance, however, San Gimignano’s unique beauty is evident. One only has to glimpse the amazing skyline, from the vibrant fields of flowers to the top of its tall towers, to know that this walled hillside town is a place is like no other. It is certainly no surprise that the town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for nearly a quarter of a century.
When visiting any location in Tuscany, holidays tend to include encountering stunning examples of medieval architecture, and San Gimignano is widely recognised to have some of the most beautiful and best-preserved buildings from the Middle Ages. Among these are the 14 watchtowers, remnants of more than 70 such towers erected by feudal lords, which, along with the encircling walls, helped protect the town. The town’s full name is actually San Gimignano delle Belle Torri, or San Gimignano of the Beautiful Towers. Churches are another point of pride here, not least of which is the Collegiata. The interior of this lovely church features frescoes from several of Italy’s most famous painters, including Taddeo di Bartolo, Benozzo Gozzoli, and Domenico Ghirlandaio. The Church of Sant’ Agostino features an altarpiece by Piero di Pollaiuolo and the carved tomb of San Bartolo, by Benedetto da Maiano.
Because wine is one of the major products of Tuscany, holidays in the region certainly wouldn’t be complete without tours of local vineyards and wineries, to sample some of the famous wines. For the oenophile, the region offers opportunities to enjoy not only the wines of Chianti, but also the town’s own Vernaccia di San Gimignano. This is an excellent white wine produced from an ancient variety of Vernaccia grape (the same grapes mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy) exclusively by local wineries. Although not as well-known as many of the region's other wines, oenophiles consider it a wine fit for a king - in fact, it is said to have been a favourite of Pope Martin IV.
Carolyn Spinks is COO of ABTOI - The Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy. If you’re looking for the perfect Tuscany holidays the LoveItaly website provides destination information, contact details of tour operator members to help you plan the best Italian holiday, insider tips, year round special offers and information on everything from beach holidays in Sardinia, cycling in Sicily, to a wedding or honeymoon in Tuscany.