|
|
|
San GimignanoSan Gimignano is probably the most famous small town in Italy, and there are few places that evoke the atmosphere of mediaeval Tuscany so powerfully. It is one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities and with its mediaeval towers of varying heights it has the feel of a living museum. Situated on top of a hill, at 334 mt above the sea level, the village overlooks the Val d'Elsa. Ancient Etruscan village, built during the Hellenistic period (III-II centuries BC), whose name derives anyway from the Saint Bishop of Modena: St Gimignano, that saved the hamlet from the barbarian horde. The town reached the maximum splendour in the Middle Ages, thanks to the via Francigena, that allowed the flourishing of extraordinary works of art adorning churches and convents. In 1199 San Gimignano became a free commune, and suffered civil fights between Ardinghelli (Guelphs) and Salvucci (Ghibellines). In 1300, the village hosted Dante Alighieri, as ambassador of the Guelph alliance in Tuscany. Unfortunately the Black Death spread and raged over Tuscany in the XIV century, and touched San Gimignano in 1348. The charming place suddenly emptied, and sank into a grievous crisis, submitting itself to Florence's authority. Only in recent times the city's been rediscovered and the restoration works have increased the value of the whole area, bringing it back to the ancient splendour and the original agricultural identity. The narrow flagstone alleys and the extraordinary glimpses once passed through Porta San Giovanni (one of the ancient gates) will strike your imagination and let you feel in a lovely village of the past. At the end of Via San Giovanni you'll find the centre of the town, formed by two interlocking triangular piazze: Piazza della Cisterna, built around a fascinating well dated back to 1237, and Piazza del Duomo, flanked with the city's main church and town hall. The village is delimited by the tall medieval towers and walls that have made San Gimignano, "city of the beautiful towers". There are many enchanting cultural itineraries, as follows: Duomo, consecrated in 1148, structured over three naves, enriched by precious frescoes of the Senese school: Old and New Testament, by Bartolo di Fredi and "Bottega dei Memmi"; the Last Judgement, by Taddeo di Bartolo. Some works of art of the Florentine school: stories of St Fina, by Ghirlandaio; St Sebastiano, by Benozzo Gozzoli; Statue Lignee, by Jacopo della Quercia) and some sculptures by Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano. The wonderful masterpieces makes the Collegiata a prestigious notable museum. Palazzo Comunale, Holy Art and Archaeological Museums, do all worth a visit! Something not to be missed is the lovely "Spezieria di St Fina", related to St Fina's Hospital, with a faithful reproduction of the ancient pharmacy, pottery and glass containers as well as ancient medicaments. San Gimignano is also famous for a very prestigious wine, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano - the first Italian wine to obtain the DOC (denominazione di origine controllata, i.e., controlled designation of origin). Right outside the town, in San Donato, you will visit the cellars of one of the producers of this famous wine. There, you may taste different types of wine made in the region accompanied by local foods. Other towns in the area: Arezzo, Asciano, Badia a Ruoti, Badia Agnano, Bagni di Lucca, Barberino Val d'Elsa, Bucine, Campo nell'Elba, Camucia di Cortona, Carrara, Casciana Terme, Casole d'Elsa, Castelfiorentino, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castiglion Fiorentino, Castiglioncello, Certaldo, Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Civitella della Chiana, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Cortona, Empoli, Fabbrica di Peccioli, Figline Valdarno, Florence, Foiano della Chiana, Forte dei Marmi, Gaiole in Chianti, Gambassi Terme, Ghizzano, Grassina, Greve in Chianti, Grosseto, Iesa Palazzo, Impruneta, Lamporecchio, Laterina , Livorno, Loro Ciuffenna, Lucca, Lucignano, Marciano della Chiana, Marina di Grosseto, Empoli, Masotti, Massa, Moggiona, Molazzana, Monsummano Terme, Montaione, Montalcino, Monte San Savino, Montecatini-Terme, Montefollonico, Montelopio, Montepulciano, Monterchi, Monteriggioni, Montevarchi, Montisi, Nievole, Panzano in Chianti, Pian di Sco', Pienza, Pietrasanta, Pieve Fosciana, Pisa, Pistoia, Pitigliano, Poggibonsi, Pontassieve, Poppi, Porciano di Lamporecchio, Porciano di Stia, Pozzo della Chiana, Prato, Radda in Chianti, Radicofani, Rapolano Terme, Reggello, Rignano sull'Arno, Rigomagno, Riparbella, Rosignano Solvay, San Baronto, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, San Giuliano Terme, San Miniato, San Quirico d'Orcia, Sarteano, Saturnia, Scandicci, Segromigno in Monte, Seravezza, Serre di Rapolano, Sieci, Siena, Sinalunga, Sorano, Staggia Senese, Subbiano, Tirrenia, Torre del Lago Puccini, Torrita di Siena, Trequanda, Vagliagli, Viareggio, Vinci, VolterraYou might also be interested in reading about the following San Gimignano topics:
|
 |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
||
Home | Travel Guide | Travel Tips | Contact Us USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 800 509 8194 Fax International: +41 91 220 0877. Fax Italy: +39 089 311 5055. Fax USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 888 883 7172 All kind of questions and suggestions are welcome: info@summerinitaly.com. Copyright © 2001-2012 Summer In Italy. All rights reserved.
|
