Things to do in San Gimignano

You see the town well before you arrive there. Regardless of how you visit San Gimignano, the towers will rise up from the hilltop as you approach, creating its distinctive medieval skyline.

It’s these towers of San Gimignano that make the town so famous, setting it apart from the dozens of other charming hilltop settlements in Tuscany. San Gimignano is worth visiting just for these alone.

But to focus only on San Gimignano’s towers would be a mistake – and I should know. I visited several years ago and just spent a few hours here, thinking it was all that was needed.

As you can tell from this story that I wrote at the time, I came away with just a relatively superficial view of the town.

So, how much time do you need in San Gimignano? Well, on this visit, I spent more than 24 hours in town and even then I feel like it’s not quite enough. It’s one of those towns where, the more you explore, the more you realise there is to see.

Aside from the towers that San Gimignano is known for, there are exquisite churches, priceless artworks, and fascinating historical sights, making a visit one of the best things to do in Tuscany.

San Gimignano is also somewhere you don’t want to rush. Part of the charm is exploring, meeting the residents who live within the walls, and eating and drinking the local produce.

It’s easy to get caught up in the frenetic pace of the tour groups – but relax, wander at your own pace, and you’ll see a different side of the town.

During my time in the town, I find so many things to do in San Gimignano. Let me share them with you now, to help you plan a trip to San Gimignano for yourself when you’re next in Tuscany.

Historic Centre

Before I go into some of the more specific things to do in San Gimignano, I want to suggest something that seems obvious… but that most people don’t seem to do. And that’s to explore the side streets of the town.

You’ll quickly realise that the historic centre of San Gimignano is not that large – less than a kilometre long and half a kilometre wide. And, there is effectively one main path that links the stone gates at each end.

Many tourists just stay on this path because it has most of the obvious main sights along it. But, for that reason, it’s always crowded. So just take a turn and explore the other streets and alleys and you’ll see a more local (but just as authentic) perspective of San Gimignano.

But beyond just random walking, of course, there are some particular sights of note, so these are a few of the most important things to see in San Gimignano.

Torre Grossa

The towers of San Gimignano may be the town’s best-known attribute, but they were actually pretty impractical.

They were built by wealthy and powerful families to prove that they could (and to compete in a rather phallic competition to see who could build the tallest). But their owners didn’t really use them for anything else.

Still, it’s worth climbing one and the best one to go up is the Torre Grossa, the tallest tower in San Gimignano…

Construction began in 1300 and, as a public tower, nobody was allowed to build a taller private one. (Although, across the square, you’ll see a pair of towers that would be taller if they were on top of each other, a sneaky way one family got around that rule!)

There are 218 steps to the top, with an interesting audiovisual presentation on the way up. From the top, you get spectacular views out across the town and surrounding countryside.

Palazzo Comunale

Access to the Torre Grossa is through the Palazzo Comunale (also known as the Town Hall) and the historical exhibitions here are well worth a look. There are some interesting items, including some with special portrayals of Saint Geminianus (after whom the town was named).

One of the most important rooms to take note of is the Sala Dante, named after the famous poet who visited here as an ambassador in 1300. The walls are covered in artwork but the most impressive is the fresco by Lippo Memmi that shows a seated Mary surrounded by saints and angels.

The other most important room is the Camera del Podesta, which has wonderful frescoes by Memmo Di Filipuccio. It tells the story of love (or, what was considered the right kind of love in the 14^th century).

On one side you have bad love, with the man spending his time with whores and being robbed. On the other side is good love, with a couple getting married and getting into bed together.

Cathedral of San Gimignano

Next to the Town Hall is the Cathedral of San Gimignano, and visiting it is probably the single most significant thing to do in San Gimignano.

The walls of the church are lined with stunning frescoes with panels that tell the stories of the Old Testament on one side, and the New Testament on the other.

They were painted in the 14^th century and each is a masterpiece on its own, so just imagine what it’s like to stand in the middle of the cathedral and look at them all.

One of the other highlights of the San Gimignano Cathedral is the small chapel of Santa Fina. It’s a beautiful piece of work created by three famous artists from Florence – an architect, a sculptor, and a painter.

The story of Santa Fina is also very interesting. She was a little girl from the 13^th century who became very sick and spent her final ten years lying on a wooden board. When she died, yellow viola flowers blossomed on the board, which the locals called a miracle so they made her a saint.

You can see the original board in the chapel and you’ll find lots of Santa Fina iconography around the town.

Church of Sant’Agostino

After the cathedral, the next most important church to see in San Gimignano is the Church of Sant’Agostino, which was built in the 13^th century.

It looks quite simple from the outside but this was the style of the time. All the elegance was saved for the interior, which features some wonderful pieces of art.

The most famous artwork is the series of frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli showing the life of Saint Agostino, which you can see behind the altar.

Another important fresco is the one of Saint Sebastian, also painted by Gozzoli.

It’s worth also having a look at the attached cloister, which was added slightly later in the late 15^th century.

Church of San Lorenzo in Ponte

While we’re talking about churches, there’s one more to mention – the Church of San Lorenzo in Ponte. (The name refers to a drawbridge (Ponte) to the bishop’s castle that used to also be here.)

The main attraction of this simple church is the series of frescoes depicting scenes of Saint Benedict, as well as a large fresco with Christ in Glory, with the Virgin and the 12 apostles.

Medieval Fountain

From the Santa Chiara museum complex, there’s an easy downhill walk to the Medieval Fountain (of course, that means there’s going to be an uphill climb to come back).

These water fountains actually look more like a series of small reservoirs within arched rock-cut chambers. They were built in the 14^th century and used by the townsfolk to draw water and clean their clothes.

It’s an interesting bit of history but I’m not sure it’s worth the downhill (and uphill) detour if there are other things you would prefer to be doing.

Museums

Some of the most important heritage sights in San Gimignano have been turned into museums, showing how life once was here or examining different parts of the town’s history.

It’s worth visiting at least a couple of the museums in San Gimignano to help get a sense of the rich story of the town.

Archaeological Museum

You’ll find three interesting museums housed together in the old Santa Chiara complex.

The first is the Archaeological Museum, which has a collection of artefacts from different periods in the history of San Gimignano – although most are Roman.

It’s a fairly simple display that doesn’t have a huge amount of explanatory notes. There’s a plan to refurbish it in the near future.

Herbarium of Santa Fina

The second museum is the Herbarium of Santa Fina, which is actually quite interesting. It is a partially reconstructed pharmacy that shows what the store would have once looked like.

There are ceramic jars, potion bottles, and all sorts of other things that I’m not convinced would actually help with your ailments.

It does offer a good insight into the way of life from the 15^th to the 18^th centuries.

Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery

And the third museum in the complex is the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery. It has quite an extensive collection of local artworks in different styles.

There is also space for a temporary exhibition and famous international artists are often exhibited here. It’s certainly worth finding out if there’s something special happening during your visit.

Torre e Casa Campatelli

The Torre e Casa Campatelli (Tower and House of Campatelli) is an interesting historical site that’s well worth a visit. It’s a bit different to many of the other sites, in that it’s from the 18^th century, rather than the Medieval period.

Well, the tower is from the 12^th century, originally 11m high and now 28m – and it was actually used as a house, as opposed to most of the others that were just for show, as I mentioned earlier.

The building that surrounds it (from the 18^th century) was converted into a family house in the 19^th century and the interior designs you see today are from that period. As you can tell, they were wealthy business owners – but were probably still only upper-middle class.

A highlight of the visit is the audiovisual show in the attic that takes you through the history of San Gimignano. It’s really well-presented and, for me who saw it towards the end of my time, brought together a lot of the different things I had seen into a clear narrative.

Creative arts

Perhaps it’s inspired by the buildings full of masterpieces or the stunning landscapes around town. Whatever it is, there’s certainly a creative streak to San Gimignano that you’ll be able to discover in quite a few places.

San Gimignano 1300

You’ll have noticed that a lot of San Gimignano’s history is based around the Middle Ages. To get a better understanding of what the town was like back then, I would recommend visiting the San Gimignano 1300 exhibition.

The main attraction is the large model of what the town looked like 700 years ago. It is so detailed that it gives you excellent reference points for your visit.

It’s also a very impressive artwork, made by hand out of fired clay and decorated with historically accurate pigments. It took more than two years to complete under the oversight of brothers Michelangelo and Raffaello Rubino.

Local crafts

As it turns out, a lot of the San Gimignano locals are very artistic. As you wander through the town, you’ll see a lot of stores that are selling genuine handmade crafts of the region.

A great example is Balducci Ceramica, which sells incredible pottery. Franco Balducci makes really interesting pieces and you’ll often find him working at his wheel in the store.

Franco’s wife, Esther Vogeli, also works in the store making adorable clay animals and tiles depicting Tuscan landscapes.

There are quite a few other workshops and stores so if you’re looking for something in particular, I would suggest asking for recommendations from the tourist office in the main square.

Rocca of Montestaffoli

As if to prove the point, I meet an artist when I wander into the old fortress of the Rocca di Montestaffoli, sitting in the shade of a tree painting small watercolour landscapes.

We chatted for a bit and she tells me she moved to San Gimignano years ago and her favourite thing is the community here, which is still strong and vibrant despite the constant influx of tourists.

The Rocca itself is the town’s old fortress from the 14^th century. It’s seen better days and is really just a shell that is used for public events like concerts.

Still, it’s free to go in and you get a great view from the top of the walls, so I would recommend checking it out.

Food and drink

It’s Italy, so of course there are some great places to eat in San Gimignano. And while the town is very touristy, meaning some places are designed for quick non-authentic meals, it’s pretty easy to find good experiences.

Restaurants

Down the main street of San Gimignano, you’ll see the usual cafes with sandwiches, trattorias with standard plates of pasta, and a couple of pizzerias.

To discover the best restaurants in San Gimignano, though, you need to either know what you’re looking for, or where you’re looking, because some are not in the most obvious spots.

A few great choices that offer an authentic place to eat are:

• Osteria della Catene: This traditional restaurant serves hearty meals that are great examples of the local cuisine and with great value prices.
• La Mandragola: With a quiet setting including a garden, this little oasis focuses on Tuscan dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients.
• Le Vecchie Mura: The home-cooked style with local dishes like wild boar and white beans is just part of the attraction – it’s the sweeping view from the terrace that really makes this spot.
• Linfa: San Gimignano’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, this is an exquisite fine-dining experience with tasting menus and optional wine pairings.

If you’re just doing a quick day trip to San Gimignano, you might think you don’t have the time for a long meal. Well, that’s a good reason to stay overnight!

Gelateria Dondoli

I was always taught to finish my meal before I was allowed to have dessert. But, here, I think I could make an exception because one of the best things to do in San Gimignano is to try the famous Gelateria Dondoli.

The gelato at this store is known across the world – and for good reason. Sergio Dondoli has won a ton of awards and accolades for his gelato, which is made from the milk of special cows from nearby farmlands.

Along with the expected, there is a range of interesting flavours – raspberry with rosemary, ricotta with bilberries, saffron with orange and nuts, even pink grapefruit and sparkling wine – and it’s hard to pick just one… or two (…or three).

Sergio also now offers an exclusive gelato-making class which is a real treat! Normally you need to book private classes (minimum €400 for two people, with €50 for each extra person), but every Tuesday morning he runs a public class that’s just €50 per person. More info here.

Dining with a local

When you visit San Gimignano, you don’t need to go to a restaurant to try some authentic local food. In fact, some of the town’s residents will welcome you into their homes and share a personally-cooked meal with you.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, you can see the details here. Along with a four-course meal with drinks, you’ll also get to learn a lot about Italian cooking.

Another option, if you want to get a bit more involved, is this fun pizza masterclass and wine tasting.

Or, for another interesting food experience, you might like to go truffle hunting (with wine and lunch).

Taste San Gimignano wine

I can’t stress this strongly enough – don’t come to San Gimignano without trying the wine! It’s one of the main products of the region and has its own distinct taste.

The most famous local varietal is the Vernaccia of San Gimignano, which was the first Italian wine to get a DOCG certification (in 1966). Its production area falls entirely within the San Gimignano municipality and the wine has to contain at least 85 per cent Vernaccia.

In town, the best place to try it is the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Experience at the Rocca (remember that old fortress?) where there are lots of different tasting options, depending on what you’re looking for.

You can also try some of the other varietals that are produced in the region. In total, Gimignano has about 60 wineries and they also make some excellent Chianti, for example.

Tours

Although it’s possible to visit independently, you may like to take one of these tours to get even more out of your visit.

City tour

San Gimignano is small and you can easily walk around it yourself and find most of the main sights. But, I think it’s the stories of those powerful tower-building families that really bring the town to life.

Many visitors just walk up and down the main street, but I love to be transported back to the time when the town was at its peak.

Having a local guide show you around San Gimignano will give you a lot more detail, plus they’re likely to take you to some hidden gems in the side streets that you may have missed otherwise.

I would recommend this private guided tour that will go for about two hours and is quite affordable if you’re in a group.

From Florence

I appreciate that many visitors come on a day trip to San Gimignano, often direct from Florence.

If it’s all the time you have, that’s still a really good way to see the town. To be honest, you can see most of the main sights during the day. (The benefit of staying longer is that you see the town without all the tourists!)

If you’re keen to visit on a tour, to save the hassle of planning everything, I would recommend this guided visit from Florence that also includes Siena and a wine tasting.

Or there are a few more good options here:

You’ll also find tours from some of the other main centres like Siena.

Chianti wine tasting

If you’ve got time, you should also head out into the countryside and visit some of the local wineries to do some tastings at the cellar door and see the rows of vines on the beautiful Tuscan landscape.

San Gimignano is in the heart of the Chianti region, and you’ll find some of Italy’s best wineries here. (In fact, I’m sure some people come here just for the wine and not for the heritage of the town).

If you want to get a broad appreciation for the wines that are grown around San Gimignano, then this 2-hour wine tasting is an excellent place to start.

But to get a bit further out into the region and see more of the Chianti vineyards, there are some other great tours here:

Around town

The rolling hills, the vineyards, the hilltop towns – this is a beautiful part of Tuscany. Even if you’ve just got a spare hour, I recommend heading out of town to see the landscapes or go even further if you have time.

Walk in the countryside

Speaking of the countryside, I don’t think you can really appreciate San Gimignano until you see it from the outside. The skyline is one of the most important characteristics, and you can’t get a sense of that from inside the town.

Even if you don’t have a lot of time, there’s an easy walk you can do along the Via Vecchia per Poggibonsi (the Old Road to Poggibonsi).

Within about ten minutes, you’ll have a great view of the old town with vines in the foreground. If you keep walking along, you’ll get different angles and different foregrounds.

If you stay overnight, I would highly recommend you get up early and go for a walk around sunrise. The colours are amazing and it’s such a refreshing way to start the day.

Ride around the countryside

And, if you’ve got a car or a bike, even better – you can explore a bit further afield. There are some wonderful little communities in the San Gimignano area that will show you the best of Tuscan hospitality.

Speak to someone at the tourism office first and get some tips about the best producers to visit, to try the wine, olive oil, cheese, meats, and other products.

There are small sights along the way, such as the Monastery of Bose, which is on the Francigena and is a peaceful spot with a charming church.

And, of course, you’ll find plenty of different viewpoints of San Gimignano itself, so you can see it in all its glory from various perspectives.

Day trips

If you’re basing yourself in San Gimignano for a night or two, then you can use the town as a launching spot to explore some of the other sights around Tuscany.

Nearby is the walled town of Volterra, which is beautiful as an ensemble but also has a really impressive collection of sights, particularly the cathedral and the Etruscan Museum.

Just 40 minutes drive away is Siena, with its iconic central square, Gothic town hall, and magnificent cathedral.

If you’re not planning to stay there as well, then you can even do a day trip to Florence from San Gimignano to see some of the main sights (although obviously, the city deserves much longer than that).

Another good trip is to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and some of the other sights in the city, which is about 1h 20m by car from San Gimignano.

BONUS: Explore in the evening

As you can see, there are plenty of sights in San Gimignano and it would be hard to do them all in a day… at least in a pleasurable relaxed way.

So, that’s why this bonus suggestion for what to do in San Gimignano is simply to spend the night here!

As well as simply having more time, the other advantage of not leaving with the day-trippers is that you can explore the town in the evenings, which is one of the best times to be in San Gimignano.

The streets are relatively empty, and the lights give the cobbled streets and stone buildings a delightful hue.

But it’s also a great time to sit outside at the restaurants and cafes without the crowds bustling past. Eat the local food, and have some of the amazing local wine!

Time Travel Turtle was supported by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Journeys of Europe but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.