Location: San Gimignano
Top Things to do in San Gimignano
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10 Budget-friendly Things to do in San Gimignano That You Shouldn't Miss
San Gimignano, known as the "city of beautiful towers," had 72 towers in its heyday. Now 14 remain, and, rising above Tuscany's Elsa Valley, they make the town look like a medieval dreamscape. Take in the fresco-covered Collegiate Church, the Civic Museum and the views from atop 177-foot Torre Grossa. Daytrippers from Florence tend to fill up the streets during the day, so for a more up-close-and-personal look at the town, spend the night.
Restaurants in San Gimignano
1. Guardastelle Vineyard
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 694 reviews
Welcome in our house! Walking distance from San Gimignano, one of the most important towns of Tuscany, during the wine tour you'll discover a part of Tuscany that few people knows. You'll understand how is the countrylife in this part of the world. Please check our website for detailed info and email us for reservation and/or questions and special requests. We wait to welcome you, as private or group. Reservation required to tour the farm.
Reviewed By 301karimam
We were so well taken care of by Fausto and Rikkaa. This is a family owned vineyard that makes some incredible wines. We had a great stay here for 2 nights and wished we had booked longer. Fausto helped us with everything from making reservations to recommending masseuses and restaurants. Rikkaa is very well versed sommelier who gave us great winery recommendations as well. However, with all the wines we tried in the region, we liked Guardastelle's wine the best and already bought 6 bottles shipped home!
2. Fattoria Il Piano
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 206 reviews
Come and relax in the fresh air with social distancing with our wines and good food.The vineyards and winery have been lovingly tended by the Carlesi-Zucconi family since 1973. Begin with a stroll through the vines on your guided tour of one of this region's most traditional wineries. See how we make and mature our wines in the underground cantina; then afterwards relax with breathtaking views of San Gimignano and the surrounding bucolic Tuscan countryside while enjoying our premier wines accompanied by local cuisine.
Reviewed By mlamp2013 - Medina, United States
YOU have got to go see this winery/vineyard!!! It is the BEST...and David is wonderful. You can really tell that he cares about wine/food/people. It is an awesome tour of the vineyard and family chapel and then you are served a WONDERFUL lunch! We had about 1.5 hours before checking into our AirBnB, and David let us just stay outside, having some wine and enjoying the Tuscany sun. It was wonderful!!! We bought 2 bottles of his DELICIOUS wine. If you are anywhere near San Gimignano, don't miss this vineyard. It is the BEST!!!!
3. Torre e Casa Campatelli
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 244 reviews
Located in San Gimignano, Campatelli is an 18th-century building that features one of the town’s famous medieval towers. The residence of a high-ranking family in the 19th and 20th centuries, Casa Campatelli reconstructs - through its fornitures, decor, paintings and private mementos - the ambience and history of a traditional Tuscan family and society of a bygone age, set against the background of 1000 years of history, recounted with sophisticated digital technology that encapsulates the origin of the legend of San Gimignano, givin visitors a deeper insight unto the town.
Reviewed By g0rd0n250 - San Gimignano, Italy
It is well worth visiting this house early on if you are visiting san Gimignano for the first time- and don’t miss the excellent video presentation. This gives a brief insight into the history of both the house and the town and helps put much of what you see later ( such as the frescoes in the duomo) into context.
4. La Bottega del Sale di Duccio Nacci photographer
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 102 reviews
I was born in 1967 in San Gimignano, and here I decided to live and work.Since I was a young boy, the passion for photography has fascinated me, at the beginning because I felt I was immortalizing happy moments. And as I grew up I felt more and more that this hobby could become a serious occupation. As early as 1997 I had the chance to illustrate catalogues and books in collaboration with several national and international magazines (Conde Nast, Rusconi, Mondatori and others).Now he is looking towards a different type of image: a silent landscape where the human person, even though invisible, is always present and leads us towards a melancholic kind of joy.My first book "Viaggio nella Campagna Toscana" ("A Journey through Tuscan Landscapes") was published in 1998 after long and careful work so as to lead the reader on a poetic and aesthetic journey through the beauty of Tuscany. My wife Renata and I then decided to open a photo shop in San Gimignano, the first of its kind to sell colour and black and white photographs taken by me and printed in my own workshop. Our "La Bottega del Sale", the medieval "Salt Shop"in the Piazza Duomo, was inaugurated in April 2000 where we started this beautiful adventure which has brought us such great satisfaction.My journey as a photographer has grown steadily over the years. Initially I specialised in photographing landscapes, architecture and art. Later I tried to catch the soul of a silent landscape where the human being - even if not visibile - is always there conveying a feeling of melancholic joy. The second book of colour shots was published in 2008, with the title "Toscana dell'Anima" ("Tuscany of the Soul"), a volume of photographs selected together with poems of Tuscan authors of every age, from passionate verses from Cecco Angiolieri and Dante Alighieri to calmer and more ironic poets such as Folgore da San Gimignano and Aldo Palazzeschi. In the meantime, I have exhibited, participated in special events, and shown my work at "Rencontres de la Photographie" in Arles (France) in 2008 and 2009.I succeeded in realizing my first volume in black and white after years awaiting and respecting the flow of nature, in order to be able to photograph a landscape not just in its authentic form, but as my eyes would always like to see it. You must not be in a hurry when wishing to reproduce the sensations that flow through you when seeing a beautiful thing, and so "Toscana, occhi nel Silenzio" ("Tuscany, Eyes in the Silence") was published in 2010.
5. Podere La Marronaia- Sosta Alle Colonne
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 647 reviews
Podere la Marronaia, a family story behind a bottle. Podere la Marronaia is a small familyrunned farm involved in the biodynamic method of cultivation of grapes and olives. Podere la Marronaia produces white, red and rosè wines and extra virgin olive oil. Wine and olive oil tastings are possible as well as farm visit.
Reviewed By durango2x - Wall Township, United States
the experience was wonderful, the staff(( Family ) wine tasting fresh homemade food , the charming family dogs , all perfect ….would recommend to family and friends …..Can't wait to go back
6. Azienda Agricola San Quirico
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 172 reviews
Our Winery San Quirico in San Gimignano is runned by Vecchione family since 1860. We produce 750 Hl of organical red and white wines and a quality of Extravirgin Olive Oil in organic farm. In 2004 our Farm obtained the Organcal Certification through the QC control body srl. Since 2012 also the vinification method is certified organic. All wines our produced with our own grapes grown in our vineyards in San Gimignano: Vernaccia di S. Gimignano Traditional and Riserva Isabella (matured in barrels for about 24 months) Chianti Colli Senesi Docg (100% Sangiovese Selection) San Gimignano Rosso Doc - Botticello" (Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah, aging in oak barrels for about 2 years) Organic Extravirgin Olive Oil (acidity 0.1%, only first pressing, cold temperature of pressing) Thanks to wine tastings directly in our winery, we involve our clients to live an emotional experience, to discover the history, the various stages of processing that bring fruits of vineyards into a glass of wine!
Reviewed By MoniqueJoe
We inquired about visiting 4 hours prior amd thankfully they were able to accommodate. The sun happened to be shining in the middle of January as we sat outside with an aperitif that Luigi prepared for us and oberserving the beautiful hills of San Gimignano as we were waiting. Luigi personally took us through the winery explaning every step and process that they go through to create their wines, as well as answering all of our questions. He was extremely hospitable and a fantastic host. They are an organic winery and use nature to ward of pesticides instead of chemicals which was lovely to hear. They also grow, press, filter, age and bottle the wines in an extremely close vicinity. So we were able to walk through the entire process from start ro finish. As the sun was setting we had our wine tasting and Luigi explained each wine and poured a generous sized glass for us to try. As they don't produced many different wines, they focus on quality and each one has its own story. This connected us with the wines and the winery itself and made for a perfect experience in Italy. Their wines are an excellent representation of what San Gimignano has to offer in terms of the quality of the wines that are produced there. We would highly recommened this tour to anyone visiting this part of the country.
7. Rocca of Montestaffoli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 304 reviews
Walk to the castle on this hilltop park to get a sweeping view of the town's many towers.
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Walking to the hilltop was the highlight of our visit to San Gimignano. However don’t expect a huge fortress as it is mostly a crumbling, but picturesque ruin. It's the absolutely stunning views that are worth going for. The path is easily accessible for most people. It is a gentle uphill walk - a steady incline and not too steep. Starting just past the Duomo, there is a clear path the whole way. Halfway up, there is a large viewing point on your left which is a great spot to stop and take photos. The fortress itself is just a shell really but you can walk up on the old tower that still remains and the views from here are a 360 degrees panorama – it’s an absolutely commanding view. There was a big storm brewing the day we were there. Watching the dark clouds rolling in across the distant mountain and over the beautiful green vineyards and lands below was dramatic and stunning. Afterwards we wandered through the small gardens. Meandering paths, olive trees, a musician playing, a central medieval well… it couldn't be prettier. It is also quite peaceful up here as most day-trippers seem to stay close to the main historic centre. Had it been a better day, I can’t think of anything much nicer that taking some food up and having a picnic under the olive trees. NOTE: Entrance through the park and fortress is free.
8. Piazza della Cisterna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,525 reviews
San Gimignano's main square has the town's 13th-century cistern, or well, in the center surrounded by some of the town's majestic towers.
Reviewed By amysun2016 - Fairfield, United States
This town gets a lot of good press and vibe, it’s very crowded compare to some of “sleepy” medieval towns nearby. They all are very similar to me, relatively. Definitely a fun place to visit as there are good crowds, restaurants, and the vibe is good.
9. Torre Grossa (o Torre del palazzo del Podesta)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 376 reviews
Along with the Clock Tower, the Podesta's Palace Towers are the most impressive as they look out over the Piazza Duomo.
Reviewed By AlbertSalichs - Manresa, Spain
Torre Grossa is the highest tower in San Gimignano, a fantastic medieval town located in Tuscany Region, in the center of Italy. I am almost sure that it is a bell tower, where there is a very interesting museum of the history of San Gimignano, where you can see objects, paintings and explanations about the history of the town. Also, you can enter to the Pallazzo Comunale and see some official rooms. While you go up to the tower, you can see some very interesting videos about he history of the city and when you arrive at the top of the tower, you can see top views of this medieval town. Wonderful! Also, I came here with my 3 years old daughter (in August-2019) and she enjoyed a lot going up and down, seeing the videos and hearing the music, and seeing the charming views from the tower. A top for adults and children in Tuscany, in Italy, in Europe and probably on world.
10. Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta - Duomo di San Gimignano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 959 reviews
Reviewed By K7787FEbrunol - Singapore, Singapore
Definitely one of the highlights of San Gimignano. Painted walls are just extraordinary and you can spend quite a while paying attention to all the details - special mention for the Hell one...
