Things to do in  San Gimignano

Often called Italy’s medieval Manhattan, San Gimignano is famous for its singular skyline featuring more than a dozen 14th-century towers. This hill town was once home to 72 soaring tower houses, built by the most powerful families as a sign of their wealth and prestige in the Middle Ages.

Yes, as one of Tuscany’s most popular hill towns, San Gimignano has a UNESCO-listed historic center that is well worth exploring. Stroll through its intact medieval cityscape and take in views over the surrounding vineyard-covered hills from the top of Torre Grossa, the tallest of the town’s landmark towers.

Dedicate your morning to San Gimignano’s old town inside the medieval city walls. Stroll through Piazza Duomo, admire the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, and climb Torre Grossa for bird’s-eye views. After lunch, strike out into the surrounding wine country to visit a cellar for a tour and tasting.

It only takes a few hours to cover San Gimignano’s compact old town, so you can easily take in the highlights in half a day. Plan to spend a full day if you want to pair your time in town with a winery visit in the nearby hills.

With its clutch of medieval towers piercing the sky high above the rooftops, the striking outline of San Gimignano can be spotted from miles around. One of the most distinctive hill towns in Tuscany, this architectural gem is home to the lion’s share of Italy’s remaining historic tower houses.

Of the 14 towers still standing in San Gimignano, only Torre Grossa is open to the public. The highest tower in town, it sits in Piazza Duomo and is open daily, year-round. There is no elevator, so you have to climb the 218 steps to reach the top.