San Gimignano (how to reach it) first developed as an agricultural market town, but this activity was gradually superseded in terms of economic importance by trade and commerce. As a symbol of the town's power, tall towers and tower-houses were erected by the local aristocracy - in the 14th century there were 72, of which 13 are still standing - inside the town walls; these walls, still intact today, enclose the old quarters of San Matteo and San Giovanni. The town is one of the best examples of medieval Tuscan urban design.
Porta S. Giovanni, the Southern gate of the city. It is the most beautiful gate of the ancient and intact walls from the 1200s.
Piazza della Cisterna, triangular in form, slightly sloping, it has a brick herringbone surface. The important ancient palaces face onto it, among which Palazzo Razzi and Palazzo Tortoli with the cut off tower.
Torri degli Ardinghelli, 1200s twin towers erected by the same name family of merchants.
Palazzo del Podestà severe 1200s construction dominated by the Rognosa, one of the highest towers (52m) still intact today.
Palazzo del Popolo, Municipal Seat, faces on Piazza del Duomo. On the right soars the Torre Grossa (54m) from the 1300s. On the left opens a big 1300s loggia. The Palace hosts the Civic Museum where among the innumerable works of art exhibited there is an extremely rare carpet of XIV century in the form of a cross.
Museum of Sacred Art, collection of works of art and objects from the Cathedral and the churches from the San Gimignano territory.
Cathedral, basilica-collegiate dedicated to S, Maria Assunta, it was constructed around 1050 and consecrated in 1148: in Romanic style on a flight of steps dominating the Piazza del Duomo. The three nave interior was enlarged in 1460 by Giuliano da Maiano, who also constructed the famous S. Fina chapel, refined altar-tomb finely frescoed by Ghirlandaio.
S. Agostino, church completed in 1298 of Romanic Gothic form, dominates the same name piazza from the top of a flight of steps. The interior of the church preserves works by Benozzo Gozzoli and Pietro Pollaiolo.
San Gimignano: official Web site of San Gimignano. City of the Beautiful Towers rich in History, Art and Culture surrounded by the splendid Tuscan countryside.
|
 |
