Historic Centre of San Gimignano

About

San Gimignano’s historic centre is a living museum of medieval life, cloaked in a sweeping skyline of tall, unfinished tower houses that earned the town the nickname "The Town of Five Towers." The city’s 13‑mile‑long walls enclose a maze of cobbled streets, shimmering piazzas, and well‑preserved Romanesque and Gothic buildings that have remained largely unchanged for over eight hundred years. Visitors can explore iconic sites such as the Piazza della Cisterna, home to a 14th‑century well, and the Piazza Duomo, anchored by the magnificent Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, a minor basilica famed for its fresco cycle by Domenico Ghirlandaio and Benozzo Gozzoli. The Palazzo Comunale, the town council’s historic seat, houses a civic museum and art gallery that showcases works by Coppo di Marcovaldo, Lippo Memmi, Benozzo Gozzoli, Filippino Lippi, and others, offering a definitive glimpse into Florence and Siena’s artistic heritage. The town’s culinary offerings—sage saffron, Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine, pecorino cheese—add a sensory dimension to the experience, while local market vendors bring the medieval atmosphere alive with craft stalls and street performers. Whether you’re following the trail of the 72 former tower houses or simply strolling past the medieval coats of arms painted on the walls, every turn reveals a fresh glimpse into the architectural and cultural splendors that earned San Gimignano a UNESCO World Heritage inscription.

Highlights

• Tower Houses
• Piazza della Cisterna
• Piazza Duomo
• Palazzo Comunale
• Torre Grossa

Must-See Areas

Good to Know

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 3 hours