Sights in San Gimignano
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Collegiata
San Gimignano's Romanesque cathedral, officially titled the Duomo Collegiata o Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta but commonly known as the Collegiata (referring to the college of priests who originally managed it), has a bare facade that belies the remarkably vivid frescoes inside.
Parts of the building date back to the second half of the 11th century, but the frescoes, which resemble a vast medieval comic strip, date from the 14th century. Entry is via the side stairs and through a loggia that was originally covered and functioned as the baptistry.
Facing the altar, along the left (north) wall, are scenes from Genesis and the Old Testament by Bartolo di Fredi, dating from…
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Pinacoteca
From the internal courtyard of Palazzo Comunale, climb the stairs to the Pinacoteca, which features paintings from the Sienese and Florentine schools of the 12th to 15th centuries. In the main room, the great poet Dante addressed the San Gimignano’s council, urging it to support the Guelph cause. The room contains an early 14th-century fresco of the Maestà by Lippo Memmi.
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Galleria Continua
Housed in the city's old theatre, Galleria Continua shows its collection of contemporary art by famous artists at virtually every major international art fair. It rarely represents Italian artists, so why they've kept this peculiar location in San Gimignano is something of a mystery. Or maybe it's a trend. The new gallery is in Beijing. Exhibitions change approximately every two months.
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Palazzo Comunale
This 12th-century palazzo has always been the centre of local government; its Sala di Dante is where the great poet addressed the town's council in 1299, urging it to support the Guelph cause. You can't miss Lippo Memmi's early-14th-century Maestà, which portrays the enthroned Virgin and Child surrounded by angels, saints and local dignitaries – the kneeling noble in red-and-black stripes was the podestà (chief magistrate) of the time. Other frescos in the room portray jousts, hunting scenes, castles and other medieval goings-on.
Above the Sala del Consiglio is the small but charming Pinacoteca, which features paintings from the Sienese and Florentine schools of the…
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Museo Archeologico & Speziera di Santa Fina
There are actually two museums and a gallery here. The Speziera section includes ceramic and glass storage vessels from the Speziera di Santa Fina, a reconstructed 16th-century pharmacy and herb garden. Many are beautifully painted and still contain curative concoctions. Follow your nose to the side room in Gallery 7, called 'the kitchen', which is filled with herbs and spices used for elixirs. Beyond here is a small archaeological museum divided into Etruscan/Roman and medieval sections with exhibits found locally.
Upstairs is the Galleria d'Arte Moderna E Contemporanea, a modern art gallery that in itself merits a visit. Permanent works include Renato Guttuso's…
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Palazzo del Podestà
In the Piazza del Duomo the Collegiata (basilica) looks across to the late-13th-century Palazzo del Podestà and its tower, the Torre della Rognosa. The Palazzo Comunale, right of the basilica, is the town hall.
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Chiesa di Sant'Agostino
This late-13th-century church at the northern end of town is best known for Benozzo Gozzoli's charming fresco cycle illustrating the life of St Augustine. Gozzoli also painted the highly unusual fresco of San Sebastian on the north wall, which shows the fully clothed saint protecting the citizens of San Gimignano, helped by a bare-breasted Virgin Mary and semi-robed Jesus (it alluded to the saint's supposed intervention to protect citizens during the 1464 plague). On Sundays at 11am, an English-language mass is celebrated in the cloister.
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Piazza della Cisterna
The triangular Piazza della Cisterna, is named after the 13th-century cistern at its centre. The square is lined with houses and towers from the 13th and 14th centuries.
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Museo d'Arte Sacra
Works of religious art from the Collegiata and other churches in the town are on display in this modest museum. Those who are interested in medieval religious objects will appreciate the items made from precious metals, including beautifully crafted chalices and thuribles (censers), as well as some exquisitely embroidered textiles.
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Rocca
The Rocca is the crumbling shell of the town's fortress with great views across the valley, a small playground - and not much else.
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Museo Ornitologico
Due south of the fort is the Museo Ornitologico. Its mournful collection of stuffed birds dates back to 1886 and looks it.
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Torre Grossa
Climb up Palazzo Comunale's Torre Grossa for a spectacular view of the town and surrounding countryside.
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San Gimignano del 1300
San Gimignano's newest tourist attraction is particularly popular with young children. A handmade ceramic recreation of the medieval city, it shows houses, streets, towers and people as they would have looked in 1300. It's bound to inspire junior visitors to attempt bigger and better Lego projects on their return home.
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