San Gimignano
It was in the 1st century, when two patrician brothers, Muzio and Silvio, fled Rome for Valdelsa and built two castles, Mucchio and Silvia (now San Gimignano).
San Gimignano is a small Italian hilltop town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. Encircled by 13th-century walls, its old town centers on Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular square lined with medieval houses. It has a skyline of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San Gimignano is a 12th-century church with frescoes by Ghirlandaio in its Santa Fina Chapel.
You can visit all the main attractions easily in a day. We found the area around San Gimignano very beautiful and therefore recommend staying a couple of days. That way you can soak up this beautiful Italian hilltop town.
Perhaps take a 4-hour wine experience at "Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Experience – La Rocca" which is the municipal Centre for the documentation and tasting of Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine and local products. The center was created by Consorzio della Denominazione San Gimignano, a consortium that brings together all winegrowers producing Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, the first Italian wine to obtain the Appellation of Origin in 1966.
We tasted almost a dozen producers using a prepaid card self-service tasting. Enjoying the crisp refreshing wines out on the patio with spectacular views on a beautiful spring day.
One thing that everyone should do in San Gimignano is at night take a slow, walk along the medieval streets under the soft, old, and warm street lights. Even the historical monuments and towers are lit up, making the town truly magnificent. All the better to share with someone special.
In late March this beautiful Italian Hilltop town stole our hearts. The perfect recharge stop for any trip to Tuscany.
