SAN GIMIGNANO private guide: Manhattan of the Middle Ages in Tuscany (Unesco)

The guided tour of San Gimignano will take you on a journey through time in medieval times along the characteristic alleys of the village and looking upwards you can admire the 14 towers, of the original 72, perfectly preserved, which were a symbol of wealth and power.
The highest with its 54 meters is the Torre Grossa from 1300 which stands out in Piazza del Duomo square, together with the Palazzo Comunale. From here we continue the tour by visiting the Cathedral of San Gimignano, a small jewel with a simple Romanesque façade but which contains many wonders and masterpieces of Italian art. The cathedral is divided into three naves, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, is entirely covered with frescoes on the New and Old Testament and the Last Judgment and houses two other treasures: the polychrome wooden crucifix of 1200 and the chapel dedicated to Santa Fina. In this chapel you can admire the extraordinary paintings by Ghirlandaio which trace the life of the Saint.

A few steps from the Duomo we find the most beautiful square of the village, Piazza della Cisterna, extraordinarily scenic and an obligatory passage point, takes its name from the octagonal well located in the center and was built by the will of the Podestà Guccio dei Malavolti, whose coat of arms it is carved on the stone of the well. It has always been the most characteristic and commercial square for the many shops that surround it and the beautiful fourteenth-century mansions, the towers including that of the devil and the famous Gelateria Dondoli, where you can taste one of the best ice creams in the world, winner of the World Cup for 2 years, and experience the highly sought-after flavors of Santa Fina cream with saffron and pine nuts or Vernaccia sorbet, the typical local wine. The tour comes to an end continuing the visit of the historic center and walking through the alleys that preserve suggestive views, the Clock Tower and the beautiful Church of Sant ‘Agostino, a treasure chest of art with frescoed chapels and the majolica floor by Andrea della Robbia.

Included:

• Walking tour with licensed tour guide

Not included:

• Collegiata cathedral (5 euro to pay cash on the spot)
  
• Museums (optional)

What to bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Water
• Sun hat on hot days

Meeting point:

• Porta San Giovanni gate