(Photo courtesy Wikimedia)
San Gimignano is a walled medieval town that sits on a Tuscan hilltop and, with its eleven tall towers, can be seen from miles away as you approach it by driving. Our travel guide recommended staying outside the crowded town and that was great advice. We found a great countryside villa with beautiful vistas just 10 minutes from town.
San Gimignano once was under the control of nearby Florence and though small, the town once had its own army. The original medieval town had 72 towers, but what is left of the town is now a tourist mecca.
Inside the walls are a plethora of shops selling all manner of goods. My wife loved the yellow leather purses shown below, and we walked out of the shop with one that she always treasured. The area is known for its prized and pure yellow saffron, discovered during the Middle Ages, which gave rise to the predominance of yellow-colored items in the shops.
The town signage points you to various sights including the Michelin rated Ristorante Dorando with the humorous notation of “Slow Food”.
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