A Guide to San Gimignano

San Gimignano is south west of Florence and one of the most famous villages in Italy for its extraordinary medieval beauty. It was built on a hill dominating the Val d’Elsa and was founded by the Etruscans and later inhabited by the Romans and developed during the middle ages. It was an animated centre for artistic excellence which is demonstrated by the frescoes and other works of art by names such as Pinturicchio, Bozzoli, Fiorentino, and Mainardi that can found in the museums and adorning the convents and churches.

The sites of cultural interests are plentiful and include: the Cathedral, Palazzo Comunale, the Museum of Sacred Art, the Archeological Museum, the Apothecary of St Fina, and the Church of St Agostino. Also well worth a visit: the Ornithological Museum, the Stronghold of Montestaffoli, the Church of St Bartolo, the Church of St Lorenzo in Ponte and the remains of the Church of St Francesco.

The views from the hill town are spectacular and look over some of the loveliest countryside of Tuscany. The local festivities include the Messi fair, the Giostra dei Bastoni, and the Film Festival.