San Gimignano : Welcome to Tuscany
one of the more famous tuscan towns in the world
San Gimignano is one of the more famous tuscan towns in the world, placed at 334m above sea level in “Valle D’Elsa”. This Etruscan city owes its name to the Bishop St. Gimignano from Modena who saved it from barbarian assaults.
In the Middle Ages, thanks to the via Francigena, it lived the period of maximum cultural and artistic splendor so that it is possible to admire the numerous works of art, churches and convents of enormous historical value.
In 1199 it became a free common and it clashed first with the Bishops of Volterra and then lived the conflict between Ardinghelli (guelphs) and Salvucci (ghibellines) families. Dante Alighieri knew the value of this small town, which accomodated him on 05/08/1300 as ambassodor of the Guelph League in Tuscany.
In 1348 the city, following pest and famine, passed under the domain of Florence, which slowly returned to shine thanks to the beauty of its landscape and its agricultural tradition