San Gimignano Trip Overview
Enjoy a classic two hour Private tour through the medieval town of San Gimignano with an experienced local guide. Touch on all the main sites and learn about the town’s rich history and famous products and visit some of the quieter corners of this historical hill town.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 hours
Starts: San Gimignano, Italy
Trip Category: Private & Custom Tours >> Private Sightseeing Tours
Explore San Gimignano Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy
Enjoy a classic two hour Private tour through the medieval town of San Gimignano with an experienced local guide. Touch on all the main sites and learn about the town’s rich history and famous products and visit some of the quieter corners of this historical hill town.
Stop At: Porta San Giovanni, Via S. Giovanni, 126, 53037, San Gimignano Italy
Meet your English speaking expert guide next to the main city gate and be introduced to the area. Learn of the conflicts and economical triumphs that have characterized San Gimignano, the Unesco protected medieval Town of Fine Towers, a must see in Tuscany. Situated between Siena and Florence, it is easily reached from both cities. Historically, as today, San Gimignano was a through fare for travelers and pilgrims traveling up or down the Italian peninsula. Enter the town on medieval Francigena pilgrim oute and pass the 12th century pilgrim shelter built by the knights of Malta. Discover how the wealthy merchants fortified their homes into towers, important status symbols in medieval times. Continue down a side street that opens up onto a picture perfect panorama of the Tuscan countryside, with its neat rows of vines, olive groves and lines of cypress trees. Pass an ancient arch an reach the city’s heart, the central Piazza della Cisterna square named after the large water cistern located at its centre.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza Della Cisterna, San Gimignano Italy
The Cistern Square is the civic center of the city, where the market is still held to this day. Learn about the medieval buildings towering over the square, and the commerce of gold and saffron spice that flourished in this town. Adjacent to the piazza is the square with the Romanesque Duomo, the Collegiata di San Gimignano, housing marvelous gothic frescos of Sienese art and a renaissance, Florentine chapel dedicated to Santa Fina, the town’s most popular saint. Beside the church stands the Civic museum and the Torre Grossa, the city’s tallest tower. On request, you may decide to visit both of these monuments with your guide on tour (admission tickets not included in tour price).
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Rocca of Montestaffoli, Via della Rocca 6, 53037, San Gimignano Italy
For those happy to walk a little further and to discover some of the town’s more hidden treasures, there’s a perfect sight-seeing spot on top of the city’s main bastion or fortification. Enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding coutryside and learn about the Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG white wine and Chianti DOCG red wines produced there. Discover how saffron has been cultivated here for almost a thousand years.
Walk down and visit the medieval fountains located at the very bottom of the town, where people used to draw water and wash their clothes. This was an important resource also for the local wool and leather guilds, a vital ingredient in their production processes.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Church of Sant’Agostino, Piazza Sant_Agostino, 53073, San Gimignano Italy
Marvel at this church built by the Augustines and learn more about this important Saint through the frescos that are partially hidden behind the main altar: these show all the main moments of his life.
Duration: 20 minutes
