Welcome to San Gimignano
As you crest the nearby hills, the 14 towers of the walled town of San Gimignano rise up like a medieval Manhattan. Originally an Etruscan village, the settlement was named after the bishop of Modena, San Gimignano, who is said to have saved the city from Attila the Hun. It became a comune (local government) in 1199, prospering in part because of its location on the Via Francigena. Building a tower taller than their neighbours' (there were originally 72) became a popular way for prominent families to flaunt their power and wealth. In 1348 plague wiped out much of the population and weakened the local economy, leading to the town's submission to Florence in 1353. Today, not even the plague would deter the swarms of summer day trippers, who are lured by a palpable sense of history, intact medieval streetscapes and enchanting rural setting.
Top experiences in San Gimignano
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San Gimignano activities
Tuscany 1-Day Sightseeing Tour with Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano
Meet your local guide before heading for the hills on a scenic drive through the Tuscan countryside. Your first stop for the day is gothic Siena, famous for its medieval streets. Choose to join a guided tour through the city(free entry inside the Cathedral is included). Or, alternatively, you're free to marvel the sights of Siena at your own pace, enjoy a drink in an open air cafe and meet the locals. Enjoy a stroll among Chianti vineyards, olive groves and wine cellars before indulging in a traditional Tuscan lunch amongst the Sienese hills where Chianti wine is produced. Surrounded by grapes vines you'll have the opportunity to meet fellow travelers while feasting on local foods including cold meats, salads, pasta and bread. A wine-tasting class will be held during lunch including free samples of wine and olive oil (which are also available for purchase). After lunch you will visit San Gimignano where you can roam the maze of cobbled streets and small squares, grab a gelato and walk between San Gimignano's famous 14 towers. Your final stop is Pisa, where you can take an up-close inspection of The Leaning Tower, view the Cathedral, the Baptistery and monumental Cemetery in Pisa before venturing back to Florence where your full-day tour concludes. Want to skip the long lines at the Leaning Tower of Pisa?Upgrade to the Tour & Leaning Tower of Pisa option and you’ll receive pre-booked entrance tickets. Go to the front of the queue at the Leaning Tower of Pisa without having to wait in line and experience a once in a lifetime opportunity to climb the world’s most titled tower. Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps over 7 floors. The climb will take approximately 30 minutes. You will arrive in Pisa approx. 6pm and leave 6.50pm. Children aged 8 years and under are not permitted to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Chianti 1-Day Tour from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Greve
Leave Florence by air-conditioned coach and travel south to Siena, passing through the postcard-perfect Tuscan countryside. Travel through the area known as Chianti, admiring the idyllic landscape of verdant green hills punctuated by cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves. After 1.5 hours, stop in the medieval walled city of Siena – Tuscany’s elegantly beautiful second city.Your first visit is the Basilica of San Domenico, a treasure chest of Renaissance dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena. Head inside the Basilica with your guide and admire its highlights. After marveling at the artwork, continue with your guide on a walking tour of the old town until you reach the Cathedral (exterior visit) and then stroll to one of the city's contrada museums.The museum is dedicated to information about Siena’s famous contrades, and as you browse the exhibits, your guide will talk to you about their origins. Loosely translated as districts, the contrades have individual legacies of traditions and each one boasts their own flag and anthems. Learn of the contrades’ role during Siena’s legendary Palio horse race, and browse the historical documents on display.After a break in Piazza del Campo for lunch (own expense), you will reach San Gimignano, a small and world famous walled town located on a hilltop, which remained intact through the centuries, renowned for its tall towers, wonderful frescoes and many other valuable works of art: here we will be led until the heart of the historical center, where to have free time at disposal for its fascinating discovery.In the evening, crossing the gently Chianti rolling hills, you will arrive to a small and typical Winery where, after a short walk in the ancient vineyards, we will visit the suggestive barrique room and taste 4 fantastic wines, sampling also locally produced zero food miles. Finally, we will stop in the picturesque village of Greve in Chianti, to admire its famous main square flanked by arcades and browse through the local artisan shops, to end a memorable experience in the heart of Tuscany.*Please note that the order of the visits may change.
Siena, Pisa, and San Gimignano Tour with Lunch from Florence
Leave Florence in the morning by air-conditioned coach. Settle into your seat and gaze out the window as you journey into the Tuscan hills. As you travel, find out more about the day’s itinerary from the onboard tour escort.Arrive in Siena, a well-preserved medieval city that’s famous for the Palio horse race, a dramatic bareback spectacle that takes place in a central square. Take a guided tour around Siena’s winding lanes and admire the city's ornamental Gothic facades. Visit the impressively ornate Siena Cathedral, the city’s number one landmark, and listen to interesting anecdotes about the city's history.Next, take a break for a 3-course lunch, which will take place in a local winery or restaurant. Munch on delicious regional cuisine such as pasta or bruschetta, accompanied by samples of two or three wines. Once your appetite has been sated, continue on to San Gimignano, a medieval hilltop town that’s known for its striking towers. When viewed from afar, these medieval structures tower above the rest of the cityscape. Explore the cobbled streets and pretty piazzas of San Gimignano independently.Rejoin the group and head to Pisa, where the next leg of the tour takes place. Upon arrival in the city, set off independently to check out what Pisa has to offer. Hang out in its vibrant cafes and bars, or visit its noteworthy sites, chief among them Pisa's Duomo, Pisa Baptistry (Battistero) and the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa.Later that afternoon, hop back on your coach for the journey back to Florence, where your tour concludes.
Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti Wine Tasting from Florence
The tour starts from Florence and leads you to the atmospheric Medieval gem of Monteriggioni. It was built in 1203 and became a strategic garrison town with its 14 towers, Dante called it the “ring-shaped citadel”. Here you can steep yourself in the past and prepare yourself for the wonders of Siena . Here your local guide will reveal to you its main beauties: the stunning Piazza del Campo, an open-air fish bowl, surrounded by softly-washed Siena stone architectural masterpieces. It really is a showpiece place, worth lingering in and drinking in the richness of the past. Visit Piazza del Duomo and be impressed by the imposing Cathedral, one of the finest achievements of Italian Gothic. Before leaving Siena you will be served a light lunch in a cozy restaurant where, together with genuine Tuscan products, you will savour traditional pastries. After your free time for lunch in Siena, continue on to San Gimignano: the home of the renowned Vernaccia wine. This Medieval town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and once you're there you'll see why. The secret lies in its soaring towers that seem like skyscrapers! It is a jewel of art and architecture and also boasts one of the best ice-creams in the world! Here you're free to stroll around or just stop and take it all in. Next, Chianti calls. You will visit a rustic wine estate where, after drinking in the landscapes, you can taste and sip quality wines and try the plonk along with oils and local products. This is a tour made for the spirit and the flesh. A perfect way to mix quality culture and cuisine.
Siena to San Gimignano and Chianti Wine Tasting Day Trip
Meet your guide in central Siena and travel north through the Tuscan countryside by air-conditioned coach. Your destination is San Gimignano, a lovely medieval town complete with old city walls and impressive towers. Perched on a hill overlooking the lush Val d’Elsa valley, the UNESCO-listed town is popular for its views, history and architecture.Learn all about the town from your guide as you travel, and then enjoy roughly 1.5 hours of free time in San Gimignano to explore at your own pace. Admire the stunning architecture around Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo, and have your camera ready for photos by the Collegiata – San Gimignano’s Romanesque cathedral. Perhaps take a stroll along the Via Francigena strip – an ancient pilgrimage road – or visit the shops to browse the locally made handicrafts and beautiful Santa Fina pottery.Meet your guide at the pre-arranged time and travel deep into the heart of Tuscany, to the famous Chianti region. Gaze out at the emerald green hills, laden with grape vines and olive groves, and stop in the postcard-perfect village in Chianti. Visit a renowned winery here for a tour, exploring the cellars, vineyards and bottling rooms of an impressive Tuscan wine estate.Hear about wine production in the Chianti area – the grapes used, the terrain and the climate – and learn about the different classifications of Tuscan wines, such as Super Tuscans and the prestigious Gallo Nero label. After your tour of the estate, sit down to sample a selection of the best!Sip on different reds and whites, noting the characteristics that set them apart from other Italian wines. While sampling and discussing the wines, tuck into a selection of typical Tuscan snacks. The dishes vary according to what’s available on the day of your tour, but you can expect delights like garlicky bruschetta, mild cheeses and Tuscan salami or ham; you won’t be disappointed!After relaxing at the winery, return to your coach for the journey back to Siena. Finish your tour in the early evening back at the start point.
Siena, San Gimignano Small-Group Tour with Lunch from Florence
Meet your group at the Florence main train station for a day filled with art, history, sightseeing, food, and wine. Hop aboard your minibus and after approximately a 1-hour drive through the Tuscan countryside, enter the heart of Siena, and start the visit with your guide. Take off through the town's narrow streets and hear stories about Siena as you go. Skip the line to see the interior of the magnificent Cathedral, and pass through the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the Palio horse race is held twice a year. After the walking tour, you'll have some free time to enjoy Siena on your own. On the way to San Gimignano, admire the unique Tuscan landscape, driving through marvelous scenery surrounded by olive trees, vines and old stone buildings. Next stop is at a family owned wine estate. Here, you will have time to relax and enjoy a proper Tuscan lunch that gives you a taste of country hospitality. After lunch, with an easy drive, you will reach San Gimignano where you will finish your day. Famous for its splendid skyline of tall Medieval towers, here you will have free time to explore on your own, the main street full of typical shops, have a look at the "Collegiata" (main church), or enjoy a gelato. You will be back in Florence in the late afternoon. Sample Menu: Assorted cold cuts, cured ham, salami, cheeses, bruschetta, pasta, or soup, salad, dessert and coffee, accompanied by the winery's own excellent products such us, different wines, and olive oil and Vin Santo (sweet dessert wine).