Medieval Manhattan in Tuscany. A short visit to the city of towers
Crowds, crowds and more crowds.
Its hallmark are tall stone towers. In the past, they were built by wealthy families who wanted to mark their social status and wealth.
At the end of April, I spent only a few hours here, because my destination was supposed to be Montecatini Terme. If you prefer quiet and unhurried sightseeing away from the hustle and bustle, forget about it during the season. Crowds of tourists from all over the world wind through the narrow streets, wanting to see one of the Tuscan gems on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Walk around San Gimignano
When we pull up to the parking lot at the foot of the city walls, we already know that it will be crowded at the top. Just pass through the Porta San Giovanni gate to become the hero of a tourist spectacle. Your attention is immediately drawn to the colorful shop windows, packed with Italian specialties: the shelves are full of various wines, pastas, jars of truffles, olive oil, natural cosmetics, ceramics, postcards, magnets and souvenirs in thousands of different versions. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes. Just look up and it will become a bit calmer. There, only towers and raw walls of buildings dominate.
The square is surrounded by stone buildings, and in the very center there is a 12th-century fountain. Walking around the square, tourists are accompanied by the view of the 14th-century Palazzo Tortolli.
You can taste delicious ice cream in one of the nearby gelaterias. The artisanal specialties won the championship in 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 as part of the official Gelato World Championship. Nothing to add, nothing to take away.
Two towers
There is a former cathedral here – currently the Duomo di San Gimignano collegiate church. Inside there are numerous medieval frescoes. In the square there are also the town hall (Palazzo Comunale), Palazzo Chigi – Useppi and Palazzo Vecchio.
The entrance leads through the courtyard of the town hall. There are “only” 218 steps away from the stunning views. However, from the top of the tower there is an unforgettable view, which is a truly tempting promise.
Polish poet about San Gimignano: “decoration for history”
In San Gimignano we will also find Polish traces. . This is a plaque dedicated to the Polish poet Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, who loved Italy. His love for the Apennine Peninsula is best reflected in the book “Travels to Italy” from 1975, in which he shares his travel impressions. The author was delighted with Tuscany and also described his experiences after visiting San Gimignano. In his opinion
“Now there are thirteen of these towers, and relatively recently there were thirty-five. Until finally, the city hall of this splendid city itself built one tower on the city hall and issued an order that no other “private” tower would be higher than the city hall’s. Of course, no one wanted to build one at that time,” wrote the poet.
Wine from the “Divine Comedy”
San Gimignano not only looks, charms with its picturesque and architecture, but also tastes.
The winemaking tradition of San Gimignano dates back to antiquity. The Etruscans then began to grow vines in the Tuscan hills. It quickly gained fame in Italian and European courts as a symbol of luxury. During the Renaissance, San Gimignano was one of the most important places for the wine trade in Tuscany. which only sealed her success. Vernaccia di San Gimignano received DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status in 1966. It was the first Italian wine appreciated for its quality and unique taste.
. Saffron, or Crocus Sativus L., with purple flowers blooms only in mid-October for about three weeks. Harvesting takes place every day in the early morning, before sunrise, when the petals are closed.
