San Gimignano
Upon approaching this magnificent medieval hill-top town the startling skyline can be seen poking out from the surrounding hills from miles away. The thirteen lofty square towers that dominate San Gimignano were built by noble families in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town position, on the main pilgrim route from northern Europe to Rome, brought it great prosperity. By city ordinance, none of the towers could be taller than the 167ft Torre della Rognosa, part of Palazzo Podesta. Today only one of the towers, the Torre Grossa, is open to the public.
For a small town, San Gimignano is utterly charming, rich in works of art, spectacular piazzas, noble buildings, good shops and restaurants. Since the Middle Ages its population has dwindled to less than 8,000, and its serenity and beauty have made this place perhaps the trendiest destination in Tuscany.
