San Gimignano

Situated just 37 miles (60 km) from Florence, in the hills of Tuscany, San Gimignano is famous internationally for its 14 medieval tower houses which are extremely well preserved. In the past, there were over 58 spires that rose over the town, each commissioned by San Gimignano’s wealthiest families, each wanting to display their power and riches. This area was considered the Manhattan of its period.

Things to do in San Gimignano

San Gimignano is a small village which tourists can visit in a couple of hours. The heart of the city has two main streets: Via San Matteo and Via San Giovanni. The centre also has four beautiful squares: Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza del Duomo, Piazza Pecori and Piazza delle Erbe.

During your walk up the town’s narrow cobbled streets you will come across its top attractions like the Duomo, the Collegiata or the Palazzo Comunale, which houses the Musei Civici (Town Museum). From Palazzo Comunale it is also possible to climb to the top of the Torre Grossa, where you will get some stunning views of the medieval town and its surrounding landscape.

Ideal for a half-day excursion

This small walled medieval hill town is just 37 miles (60 km) from Florence, making it an ideal destination to visit for just half a day. You can easily combine it with other cities like Siena and Monteriggioni.

Getting to San Gimignano

These are the simplest ways of getting to San Gimignano from Florence:

• English-speaking tour: The easiest and most comfortable way of getting to San Gimignano is booking a guided day trip. For just € 55 (US$ 57.78) per person, the tour includes a hotel pick-up and a visit of San Gimignano and other three charming places: Siena, Monteriggioni and a Chianti winery.  
• Bus: There are regular buses that run between Florence and San Gimignano. The journey takes from 1.5 hours to 2 hours and a one-way ticket costs € 8 (US$ 8.40).
• Rent a car: You can also get to San Gimignano by car and that way, stop in other charming villages along the way. If you want to rent a car, click here.
• Train: There is no direct train from Florence to San Gimignano, so you have to combine the train with a bus to get to San Gimignano, for this reason, we do not recommend it.