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Embarking on this journey has been our long-standing dream. From gorgeous landscapes adorned with vineyards and olive groves cascading over the hills to enchanting medieval towns and delectable cuisine, we chose sunny Tuscany for these reasons and more! Our carefully selected base is in the vicinity of San Gimignano, one of the most picturesque towns in the Siena province, for exploring this captivating region. In the section below, explore our ultimate guide to San Gimignano, discovering what to see and where to eat in this beautiful city.

The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: Uncovering Hidden Gems in Tuscany
The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: Uncovering Hidden Gems in Tuscany

The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: Introduction

San Gimignano, situated along the former trade route connecting the region’s main cities, Siena and Florence, gained prominence for its well-preserved medieval towers, primarily dating back to the 12th century. Serving as defenses during the rivalry between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, these towers are also linked to a theory suggesting rich fabric producers constructed them during the city’s textile production peak. Guarding the secret of a yellow dye obtained from a special saffron variety, the towers reflected the city’s historical significance. At one point, boasting 70 towers, the town now showcases only 14, symbolizing its evolving heritage.

The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: What to See?

Piazza della Cisterna

When in San Gimignano, a visit to the vibrant Piazza della Cisterna is inevitable. This square, one of the city’s two main squares, stands out with its interesting triangular shape. Named after the 13th-century well at its center (cisterna), which was once the primary water source for residents, the square features medieval buildings like the 13th-century Salvestrini house and Palazzo Tortoli.

The towering structures of Torre del Diavollo and Ardinghelli add to the square’s charm. Piazza della Cisterna also offers a variety of restaurants, bars, and is home to some of the world’s best ice cream (more information can be found below).

Piazza del Duomo

Heading northwest of Piazza della Cisterna, you can reach another charming square named Piazza del Duomo. On the eastern side of the square stands the 13th-century former town hall, Palazzo Podesta, distinguished by a huge loggia and the Rognosa tower rising for over 50 meters.

In addition to medieval towers and historic palaces, in Piazza del Duomo, you can also admire the majestic facade of the collegiate church – Collegiata di Santi Maria Assunta. This cathedral, built in the 12th century and later extended by Giuliano da Maiano, is a perfect example of Romanesque style.

The interior is adorned with beautiful frescoes depicting stories from the New and Old Testament, painted by outstanding artists of the fourteenth-century Sienese school. Particularly noteworthy are the paintings depicting the life of Christ by Barna da Siena, located in the southern aisle. Wide stone stairs leading to the collegiate church cannot be overlooked. Similar to the entire historic center of the city, the church is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Practical information: Visiting the cathedral is possible only at specific times, and an admission fee of 5 euros must be paid (details available on the collegiate church’s website).

Palazzo del Popolo and Torre Grossa

Undoubtedly, one of the most significant monuments in the city is the 12th-century Palazzo Del Popolo, situated near the collegiate church in Piazza del Duomo. Also known as the Palazzo Comunale, or Municipal Palace, this building serves as the primary seat of the municipal authorities and is crowned with a 54-meter high tower named Torre Grossa, offering unforgettable views of the city rooftops and the surrounding area. Completed in 1311, this tower is the tallest among the remaining towers in San Gimignano (requiring the ascent of over 200 stairs to reach!).

While the ground floor of Palazzo Del Popolo is occupied by officials, the upper floors house the Museo Civico, showcasing remarkable paintings by Florentine and Sienese artists. On the first floor, in the Grand City Chamber, also known as Dante’s Hall (in honor of the poet’s visit in 1300), visitors can admire Maesta, a masterpiece created by Lippo Memmi, and beautiful paintings depicting hunting scenes.

Practical information: During the peak season (from April to October), the Museo Civico is open every day from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm. An entrance ticket, valid for two days and including access to the tower, costs 9 euros.

The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: Where to Stay?

Podere Sant’Elena

If, like us, you seek the intimate and authentic atmosphere of the Tuscan countryside, consider staying at Villa Podere Sant’Elena, located southwest of the city, just fifteen minutes away.

Nestled in the heart of the Chianti region, surrounded by picturesque vineyards and olive groves, this farmhouse offers comfortable accommodations with a swimming pool that provides breathtaking views of San Gimignano.

A notable advantage of this place is its owners, Barbara and Marisa, who take care of each guest to ensure a vacation-like experience. Every morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast featuring local specialties such as cheese, sausages, frittata, panini, homemade preserves, and excellent extra virgin olive oil.

Additionally, unlimited quantities of coffee and fresh pastries from Gianni Bakery, located in the city center and owned by Barbara’s husband, enhance the experience. What more could you want? 🙂

The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: Where to Eat?

Osteria Quattro Gatti

The first restaurant we recommend in San Gimignano is located in a side street on Via Quercecchio, Osteria Quattro Gatti. The main advantage of this place, in addition to the excellent Tuscan cuisine, is a quiet terrace where, in the shade of trees, you can enjoy delicious food.

The restaurant serves typical dishes of the region, such as beef tagliata with truffles, rabbit in white wine with olives, or the famous Florentine steak (bistecca alla Fiorentina), with prices for main courses ranging between 15 and 40 euros. We opted for classic pasta with fresh truffles and incredibly aromatic ravioli with spinach in saffron sauce. Add to this a generous amount of pecorino cheese (and wine, of course), and you have the recipe for a successful Italian feast! We highly recommend this place.

Gelateria Dondoli

You absolutely cannot miss this place. When in San Gimignano, make sure to indulge in the world’s best ice cream at Gelateria Dondoli, located on Piazza della Cisterna. It’s advisable to visit more than once 😉 These ice creams are almost legendary, evidenced by the long queues forming in front of the ice cream parlor, all thanks to the award-winning master named Sergio.

With his experience and penchant for experiments, Sergio has crafted unusual and surprisingly delicious flavors such as Crema di Santa Fina (ice cream with saffron and pine nuts), Champelmo (sorbet made of pink grapefruits and sparkling wine), Dolceamaro (vanilla ice cream with aromatic herbs), and our favorite – Vernaccia Sorbet (sorbet from Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the oldest Italian white wine).

All ice creams are made with the highest quality ingredients, mainly of local origin, including organic milk and fruit, or a special variety of saffron cultivated in the region for hundreds of years. No wonder everything tastes so good at Gelateria Dondoli 🙂 In terms of prices, you’ll pay 3.5 euros for one scoop of ice cream, two for 4 euros, four for 6 euros, and six for 7 euros. We couldn’t resist and found ourselves leaving the ice cream shop with four scoops each time. After all, how often do we have the opportunity to enjoy the best ice cream in the world?

Il Ceppo Toscano

If someone wants to savor the king among regional dishes, namely the Florentine steak, they should head to the somewhat off-the-beaten-track restaurant – Il Ceppo Toscano. This traditional Tuscan dish, called bistecca alla Fiorentina, features a thick piece of delicate beef, usually from native cattle breeds like Chianina or Maremmana, weighing about one and a half kilograms and typically grilled on a wood-burning grate. The meat, prepared in this manner, is bloody, tender, and incredibly juicy. It practically melts in your mouth!

Unfortunately, indulging in a good steak comes with a considerable expense. We paid about 75 euros for a half-kilo piece of beef, including the bone. For dessert, we couldn’t resist the traditional tiramisu—an ideal conclusion to the evening!

Osteria San Giovanni

Strolling through the historic center of San Gimignano, it’s worth visiting the Osteria located on Via San Giovanni. Some of the tables are set outside, directly on the historic street, allowing us to feel the unique atmosphere of the city, especially after dark. Like most other restaurants in the area, this Osteria offers traditional Tuscan cuisine, but what sets it apart is its excellent service.

You can enjoy dishes such as fettuccini with truffles, the famous ribollita (bean and cabbage soup), or grilled lamb in pea sauce. For the appetizer, we opted for beef carpaccio and a tray of meats and cheeses, while our main course was saffron risotto. Everything tasted delicious, and the total cost was 66 euros. We highly recommend it!

Ricca Pizza

If, like us, you find the opening hours of restaurants quite unpredictable in Italy (which we’ve experienced more than once), you can always opt for a crispy pizza at Ricca Pizza. The place is open every day from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, making it extremely popular. A large slice of any pizza, whether for takeaway or to enjoy at one of the bar tables, costs 3 euros. For lovers of delicious Italian pizza, it’s a must-visit place!

Palagetto Winery

No trip to Tuscany would be complete without a visit to one of the local wine taverns. If you’re near San Gimignano, a must-visit for wine tasting is the Palagetto Winery. The winery, run by a native Tuscan family for generations, offers a wide selection of regional wines such as Chianti, Brunello Montalcino, or the famous Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

There are different options for wine tasting and you can also enjoy a traditional Tuscan dinner featuring homemade pasta. In addition to wine tasting, you can explore the wine cellar on an organized tour. The tour, led by a real expert, includes a visit to the vineyard, cellars with barrels, and places for bottling and aging wine.

During our visit to Palagetto, due to time constraints, we opted for tasting a few selected wines. We left the winery in much better spirits and with a few bottles of wine under our arm 😉 Definitely worth it!

The Ultimate Guide to San Gimignano: Summary

San Gimignano in Tuscany is an ideal destination for an unforgettable Italian vacation. With its stunning landmarks, mouthwatering cuisine, and awe-inspiring vistas, it is a must-visit place. We sincerely hope that our guide to San Gimignano above has sparked your interest in exploring this remarkable gem. Immerse yourself in its captivating history, wander through its charming streets, savor the flavors of local delicacies, and soak in the breathtaking scenery of Tuscany. San Gimignano promises unforgettable experiences for culture, history, and beauty enthusiasts alike. May this exceptional journey bring your Italian dreams to life and create memories that will last a lifetime!

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What places in San Gimignano do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

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Comments:

  • January 30, 2021

    I can’t wait to get out and travel more! and Tuscany is one of those places I’ve always wanted to explore more, so thanks for the inspo!

    Katie | katieemmabeauty.com

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  • February 20, 2021

    I cannot believe I have never heard about San Gimignano before reading your article! It’s super interesting to discover it with you! And after seeing all of this yummy Italian food I am hungry 😀

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  • February 20, 2021

    I’ll admit I came here for the food. I heard there was ice cream?! Tuscany looks just beautiful but the food looks next level amazing. That gelato – I’m definitely going to have 6 scoops if I go.

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  • February 20, 2021

    This looks like a beautiful part of Tuscany to visit! I’m definitely going to add it to my itinerary when I go back to Italy.

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  • Vanessa Shields

    February 20, 2021

    You brought back such wonderful memories! It’s been 16 years since I visited San Giminagno. I remember it being such a quiet and quaint town and so unique for its high towers. Would love to go back and try some of the restaurants as they sound delicious!

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  • February 20, 2021

    This was such a great read! I only spent a few hours in San Gimigiano, but now I feel like I need to go back and stay for a few days!

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