Of the after-effects of me binge watching The Medici on Netflix, has me yearning for Tuscany. Of the places outside India that I have visited, Tuscany is among the most picturesque. Flowing meadows, hills covered with vineyards and olive groves and faintly populated country sides. Dotting the Tuscan hilltops and valleys are several towns and hamlets, straight out of Dante’s literature.
This feels like a medieval town, as you approach it from the Porta San Giovanni. There are a few other gateways in San Gimignano’s 13th-century walls, but none is as popular or more historically significant than the Gate of San Giovanni. An imposing portal that is about 750 years old, the Gate is a favourite photography spot for visitors who want to experience medieval Italian architecture.
The best way to experience the medieval charm of the town is to walk down Via San Giovanni, the uphill cobbled street lined with small shops selling the famous San Gimignano wines, olive oils, cheese, lavender and souvenirs.
The San Giovanni street leads to the Piazza della Cisterna. The Piazza della Cisterna is San Gimignano’s historical main square. Shaped like a triangle, the piazza was is named for the octagonal well in its center, which provided clean water for the town’s citizens.
Turn right from the Piazza della Cisterna, and you’ll walk upto the Piazza del Duomo, the hub of tourist activity in the town. This square is lined by the Collegiata, the Palazzo Comunale (the town hall), the Torre Grossa (the great tower) and the Palazzo del Podesta facing the Cathedral – some of San Gimignano’s main attractions. If not in a hurry to see these landmarks, the piazza is a wonderful place to sit at a café table and relax while people watching and soaking up the medieval town’s unique atmosphere.
Like Via San Giovanni, walking along Via San Matteo offers visitors a delightful experience. A paved road stretching from the Piazza del Duomo, it runs adjacent to numerous historical buildings – the most notable of which is the Palazzo del Podesta. The street opens into the other gate of the town, Porta San Matteo.
Half a day is a good amount of time spent in this Tuscan town. Best is to have a day long trip planned coupled with a visit to a nearby winery. I’ve also written about that here.
Getting to San Gimignano
The closest city to San Gimignano is Siena, which is about 30kms away. Florence is the largest city in Tuscany, with an airport. Florence is about 40kms from San Gimignano. The best way to experience Tuscany leisurely, would be to either stay in any of the castles (I’ve written about one of them here) or to stay in Florence and then have day trips to Siena, Pisa, Arezzo, San Gimignano and the likes
