Historic Centre of San Gimignano
Historic Centre of San Gimignano
Historic Centre of San Gimignano
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Historic Centre of San Gimignano
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
102 within 3 miles
Attractions
158 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
6,641 reviews
Excellent
5,221
Very good
1,212
Average
152
Poor
26
Terrible
30
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
G.B.
821 contributions
Sept 2021
This charming medieval village had dozens and dozens of towers (hence the name "Manhattan of the Middle Ages"). The wealthy of the time competed over who literally had "the tallest tower". Some contemporaries perpetrate this behavior. However, today there are only 14 towers, but the show is absolutely guaranteed. You should contact an association to arrange a guided tour (I contacted the "Pro Loco San Gimignagno, they were very kind) to enjoy the beauty of the city during the day and, if possible, stay in the evening, because when it gets dark the atmosphere becomes fairy-tale and the city shows another, new and beautiful, aspect.
Written 9 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain23,884 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
Historic Centre of San Gimignano is located in Tuscany Region, in the center of Italy. In fact, San Gimignano is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Tuscany, and probably in all Europe and the world. It is a fortified town with some large towers and it has a characteristic silhouette that you can recognize easily, if you see a photo of the town. Inside the old town, you can walk and see the wonderful medieval buildings and towers, go to some restaurants and bars and taste local products like cheeses, cured sausages, truffe and wine, buy some souvenirs in the charming shops, or obviously visit some places like Big Tower (you can go up and see wonderful views of the surroundings), the bell tower, San Gimignano 1300, Palazzo Comunale (which is a museum), Duomo, Rocca of Montestafolli (the old castle), Torre Salvucci Maggiore (also you can go up and see views again :-)), some churches or the typical museums of torture and death punishment. Really a complet visit of the town and taste local food and wine (Vernaccia di San Gimignano is the local variety of grapes) is the best option for, at least, a full day. Top town in Tuscany, Italy, Europe and probably on world.
Written 12 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asiyah Noemi K
Pula, Croatia5,372 contributions
Jan 2020
Tuscany is a land that never ceases to amaze, it's an area that you immediately fall in love with and come back to again. In addition to the glamorous Florence, the magical Siena, the mystical Pisa, the beautiful Lucca, the excellent spas of Montecatini, Rapolano, Chianciano, there is the phenomenal medieval city of San Gimignano. World Heritage Site for Unesco since 1990, the historic center of San Gimignano is one of those places difficult to forget. It is located in the province of Siena and stands in a medieval landscape dominated by the towers, the collegiate church containing the Last Judgment of Taddeo di Bartolo, the martyrdom of San Sebastiano di Benozzo Gozzoli and the frescoes by Ghirlandaio. Paved streets, alleys, squares, wells and noble palaces provides a full picture of the way of life in this beautiful medieval city that inspires the soul. This includes that of the Podestà, enriched by the frescoes by Memmo di Filippuccio. Culinary ars also finds space. The historic center of San Gimignano can be easily visited, from Porta San Giovanni we are entered in the homonymous street, enriched with splendid fourteenth-century buildings and we are arrived in Piazza della Cisterna, so called for the presence of a cistern built in 1273, which guaranteed the water to the whole city. From here we reach Piazza del Duomo which also houses Palazzo del Popolo or Palazzo Nuovo del Podestà, now the seat of the municipality of San Gimignano. The Palace is dominated by the mighty "Torre Grossa" erected in 1311 and 54 meters high which can be visited by passing through the Civic Museum, housed inside the palace. The Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, was enlarged in 1460 by a design by Giuliano da Maiano. The interior of the Basilica is entirely frescoed, along the right wall we find Stories of the New Testament, frescoes attributed to the School of Simone Martini, and on the left Stories of the Old Testament by Bartolo di Fredi, this is famous examples of medieval art. During the tour in the historic center of San Gimignano, we are not forget to visit the Museum of Sacred Art and the Archaeological museum, with Etruscan, Roman and medieval finds from excavations in the San Gimignano area. During the visit of the historic center of San Gimignano we has the opportunity to make a fascinating journey through time in one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany and Italy that has remained intact over the years. The feeling during the stay is unrepeatable.
Written 17 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sir_guacamole
Gothenburg, Sweden3 contributions
Jul 2020
I visited this fancy Medieval town while writing material for my tight five. As you may know, when I am not selling cigars down at the bus station, I am busy writing the jokes of the future. Hear me up on this one: when you are in San Gimignano you can't tell your Uber driver "I'm by the tower"! See what I mean? If you love narrow roads and Tuscan wine you are in the right place. The area is famous for Chianti wine, even though they only have the red variety. I did ask for white Chianti like the one my uncle brought back from Florence, Missouri, but the stuff is hard to find here. No problem my friends, the red one is very good, which made for a very pleasant experience. It did, however, remind me a lot of my uncle who came back from Saigon with a straw hat and a ton of incredible stories, like the one where he lost his wallet and then found it under a rock. It later turned out that my uncle never went to Vietnam, and instead spent four years smoking blue cheese in a friend's basement down in New Orleans. It also turned out that he wasn't my uncle, but by that time he had already moved in my room and it would feel weird to just ask him to leave. He is also the only person in my family to wear a moustache, with the exception of my sister. In conclusion, San Gimignano is definitely one of the most important places you should visit in Tuscany, especially if you are interested in history.
Written 24 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShermanSUV
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL309 contributions
Oct 2019
This small Tuscany town is unbelievable. You can see the towers miles before you see the town and you definitely need to read the history of San Gimignano before arriving. A fun, fun town in Tuscany and not to be missed. Just walking around will make you feel like you've stepped back in time. If you can, it's definitely worth the effort to climb one of these towers. Lots of tourists but still plenty to see without feeling overly crowded. A must see when in this part of Italy.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skip15000
Orlando, FL403 contributions
Oct 2020
The cathedral of San Gimignano might not be as popular as the ones in Firenze but the frescos are worth every minute of your visit. Easy price (4 euro) and free audio guide. Amazing depictions of biblical events. I especially was interested in the representation of Hell. A beautiful place. NOTE: photos are not allowed (I think). At least there were signs that said so.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nikiAprilia
Aprilia, Italy84 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
The town of San Gimignano is really very beautiful and clean, its towers, well-kept alleys and squares allow you to immerse yourself in history. I don't recommend this time of year for a trip as many shops, clubs or restaurants are closed for holidays. The restaurants offer typical Tuscan cuisine at average prices. Pay particular attention to the prices in the bars, we paid 3.80 euros for a latte and 2 euros for a croissant, for a total of 18.10 euros for breakfast for three people. Give yourself the opportunity to visit the town both during the day and with the evening lights which truly offer a wonderful atmosphere.
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
130Doug
Navarre, FL1,223 contributions
Sept 2019
This was absolutely the highlight of our Chianti wine tour through the Tuscan region. Here you will find Gelateria Dondoli, allegedly the best ice cream in the world - and my wife would know!
Just off the main square is a small sheltered area with a couple of frescoes in it, almost like a small cave. While she was getting her sugar fix, I just sat down in here before sneaking off to have a beer elsewhere.
It's a little labyrinthine in San Gimignano, but worth getting lost because every square inch is simply gorgeous. Come here and stay as long as you can....
Just off the main square is a small sheltered area with a couple of frescoes in it, almost like a small cave. While she was getting her sugar fix, I just sat down in here before sneaking off to have a beer elsewhere.
It's a little labyrinthine in San Gimignano, but worth getting lost because every square inch is simply gorgeous. Come here and stay as long as you can....
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
romanshorner
Munich, Germany1,304 contributions
Jun 2019
It is a beautiful place and a must see, if you are somewhere near. You should spend at least a full day there. There are a lot of old historic buildings and monuments. Especially famous are the towers. As the city lost its importance in the 15th/16th century, there were only few changes and the city kept its original medival character. The city is full of tourists and all the infrastructure is made for the tourists. There are a lot of souvenier and handraft shops there, but no average shops. Prices in restaurants and cafes are quite high as the place is so popular.
Written 31 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL5,621 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
This was one of my favorite hilltop towns in Tuscany hands down. Narrow but comfortable to walk in winding streets with beautiful specialty stores and little cafés. The cathedral has amazing large, well preserved colorful frescoes inside, take plenty of time to enjoy all of them. The tickets can be purchased in a building across from the cathedral, it is not well marked and it took me a little time to find. They do check your Covid certificate and also take your temperature. In the main square, just in front of the cathedral there is a production of a Romeo and Juliet themed Disney movie going on right now. It was great to watch all the handymen and workers put together a medieval set with a fake fountain and statues, we spent about an hour watching the beehive of activity. In the specialty stores we bought a variety of prosciuttos, including wild boar, some delicious cheeses and wines. Some people had purchased little bottles of olive oil, it had pictures of the town on them, and I regret not buying them as gifts for family now. Face masks were mandatory everywhere inside.
Written 21 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How would it be for a wheelchair? Going up a step into a shop is fine. Just worried about cobblestones ...
Written 1 September 2019
Hi I just checked photos for you and the majority is smooth larger tile shape stones. So should actually be quite comfortable in a wheelchair!
Written 4 September 2019
Are most places open in San Gimignano on Monday’s?
Written 19 July 2019
Yes I think so. They were open the 2 week days we were there.
Written 19 July 2019
Hello, "il Trovatore" Is good
Written 29 June 2019
We are thinking it would be romantic to base in San G and take a day trip to Siena and/or Florence. Looks quaint and romantic vs being in the city of Florence since we are coming from Rome. Thoughts?
Written 10 September 2018
If you’re staying for a week or so I’d recommend staying in one of the many converted farmhouses with pools in one of the countryside locations which are about a 15-20 minute drive from Florence, Siena and san gimignano. Try the Italian country cottage website. Then hire a car and visit all 3 locations on day trips. Siena is my favourite but they’re all fabulous.
Written 12 September 2018
I am going to arrive to San Gimignano from Siena with car
Is it easy to park somewhere? Are there any parking lots close that are not very expensive?
Written 1 October 2017
Yes there are many parking area in there ..2 euro per an hours.
Written 10 July 2018
Which is the closest airport and are there trains and buses to San Gimignano.
Written 17 February 2017
To san Gimignano there is no train station, it only can be reached by bus. If you come through florence you have to take a bus or train to Poggibonsi and take another bus to san gamignano. Its a 90min ride
Written 21 February 2017
I'm going to Toscana in January and I'm very worried. I've read and checked that many restaurants and hotels too are closed in this period of the year. Who could me help to tell where I have to stay? I'm going to sleep 4 days in Florence and after I would like to stay 6 nights in San Gimignano or San Quirico d'Orcia or Montalcino. Will it be too much since it will be winter and many places will be closed?
Will it better stay in Siena? Or is it better change my planes and go to Rome?
Written 21 September 2016
I would like to book a tour for San Gimignano from Siena that includes Poggio winery. Is that available?
Written 11 June 2016
OHHHHH do I have a place for you! We stayed at the Guardastelle in a cottage (the one on their website with the spiral staircase) and it was glorious! They offer a B & B style experience or you can rent one of the stand-alone cottages. You can walk to the walled city of San Gimignano, take part in one of their cooking classes, taste their wine and olive oil... We enjoyed everything about this place, especially Suzanne and Fausto - the owners.
Written 22 February 2017
How would we get to San Gimignano from Florence please?
thanks.
Di
Written 28 May 2015
I hope it's not too late to answer your question. The best thing you can do is to take the train all the way to a little town called Pogibonsi. The train does not stop in San Gimignano. So, take a bus from Pogibonsi to San Gimignano, it's not too far. The bus will leave you in front of the walled city.
Written 28 August 2017
Showing results 1-9 of 9
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing