San Gimignano, nestled in the heart of Southern Tuscany, is a charming walled hilltop town. Situated roughly halfway between Florence and Siena, it is renowned for its captivating medieval architecture and the towers that soar above the rest of the buildings. These towers provide stunning panoramic views of both the town and the surrounding valley. In the Middle Ages, as the town was a day’s journey from Siena or Florence, it served as a popular stopover for pilgrims travelling from those cities to Rome.
We spent a delightful day in San Gimignano during our 9-day summer holiday in Liguria and Tuscany. We climbed the famous tower, explored local shops offering a wide array of regional products, savoured delicious Italian dishes, and, of course, indulged in some irresistible Italian gelato.
Here’s a concise version with just the bullet points:
- Movie Sets in San Gimignano
- Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza Duomo
- Fourteen Towers (including Torre Grossa)
- Local Delicacies (truffle, gelato, Burrata cheese, etc.)



Movie Sets in San Gimignano
Florence may be one of the most famous cities in Italy, but it’s not the only Tuscan gem to make an appearance on the silver screen—some of the region’s smaller towns have also served as backdrops for many films. San Gimignano, in southern Tuscany, is one such place.
For instance, the 1949 film Prince of Foxes featured scenes shot in San Gimignano. Another notable film, Tea with Mussolini, tells the story of a group of aristocratic English ladies who bravely attempt to defend the town’s ancient towers from a German army attack. Many of the film’s scenes were filmed in the iconic Piazza della Cisterna, showcasing the town’s medieval charm.
Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza Duomo
As I walked through the centre of San Gimignano, I felt almost enveloped by the towering buildings and impressive structures. The narrow streets were teeming with tourists, with hardly an inch left untouched. However, in two of the town’s squares, I found a welcome sense of space.
The Triangular Piazza della Cisterna
The triangular Piazza della Cisterna is a stunning, picturesque square, home to a charming old stone well (no longer in use) at its centre. Rustic yet proud façades crowd together around the well, giving the square an inviting, historic feel. On Thursdays, a lively market gathers here, adding to the vibrancy of the square. If you’ve seen Tea with Mussolini, you might recognise this very location.
Piazza Duomo
The Piazza Duomo boasts a striking skyline of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San Gimignano, a 12th-century church, is renowned for its stunning fresco cycles, featuring works by masters such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Taddeo di Bartolo, Lippo Memmi, and Bartolo di Fredi. UNESCO describes these frescoes as “works of outstanding beauty,” and they certainly do justice to the town’s rich artistic heritage.


Fourteen Towers (including Torre Grossa)
By the end of the Medieval Era, a fierce rivalry had emerged between two powerful families in San Gimignano. To demonstrate their wealth and influence, each family embarked on constructing taller and more magnificent towers. This competition resulted in a total of 72 towers dotting the town. In 1255, a law was passed prohibiting the construction of any tower taller than the Torre Rognosa, effectively putting an end to the bitter rivalry.
Standing proudly in Piazza del Duomo, next to the Palazzo del Podestà, the Torre Grossa is the tallest tower in San Gimignano, soaring to a height of 54 metres. After a steep climb to the top, we were rewarded with truly breathtaking views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. The entrance ticket to the tower also provides access to other nearby attractions, offering excellent value for visitors.


Local Delicacies (truffle, gelato, Burrata cheese, etc.)
San Gimignano is not only a town steeped in history, but also a haven for food and wine lovers. The town is famous for Vernaccia, one of Italy’s finest white wines, produced exclusively in the vineyards surrounding the hilltop town. Another local speciality is saffron, which is highly prized in the area. Many shops around town offer a delightful selection of local products, from cheeses and cured hams to desserts, spices, and kitchen tools made from olive wood or clay.


Ice Cream
These quaint little shops aren’t large, but they are packed with delicious delicacies. In the summertime, two local ice cream parlours tend to be particularly popular. Gelato Dondoli, which has won numerous awards, often has a long queue outside. However, the shop next door also serves equally high-quality, mouthwatering gelato, perfect for those looking to skip the line.
Burrata
During our visit, we stopped for a quick snack at a small eatery, which offers a selection of small dishes perfect for pairing with local wines. I had the chance to try Burrata, a fresh Italian buffalo milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is smooth and solid mozzarella, while the inside is a delicious mix of stracciatella and cream, giving it a wonderfully soft and rich texture. Paired with Italian cured ham and truffle, it was an irresistible treat—I couldn’t get enough of it.
A Funny Drawing
One of the restaurants had a humorous drawing depicting the difference between what an Italian and a Belgian might choose from the menu. It made me smile and was a delightful touch to the dining experience!


Travel tips for San Gimignano in Southern Tuscany
Additional Highlights Worth Exploring
If you have time, San Gimignano offers a few fascinating museums worth exploring. The Museum of Sacred Art showcases religious treasures, while the Museo della Tortura offers a chilling look at medieval torture instruments. For wine enthusiasts, the Museo del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a must-visit, dedicated to the town’s renowned white wine with a range of exhibits celebrating its history and production.
How to get there
The cheapest best option is by bus, but it’s important to check the bus schedule in advance. Another easy way is to join a tour from larger cities like Florence and Rome. San Gimignano is also accessible by car, but you must park outside the town walls.
- Buses leave Florence’s bus station (next to the train station) every hour. The journey takes 1.25 to 2 hours, with a change in Poggibonsi.
- From Siena, the bus ride takes 75 minutes, also with a change in Poggibonsi.
- The bus ride from Volterra takes 2 hours, with a change in Colle di Val d’Elsa. Note that Sunday buses are fewer and more crowded.
San Gimignano doesn’t have a train station, but you can take a train to Poggibonsi (labeled “Poggibonsi-S.G.”) and then a bus from the train station to San Gimignano.



This is an interesting place. I had no idea that one of their main products is saffron. Would love to visit in the future. Can’t wait to shop for spices and ofcourse try their cheese, ham and wine.
Checking the available tours right now and hopefully we can consider this on our future vacations.
What a neat place to visit! So picturesque and lots of great history. I can’t believe how many kinds of salami are in that store! I haven’t been to Europe and this is the kind of place I would love to see.
We spent a week in Tuscany las spring. I loved it so much, however, there were so many places I wished to see while there, like san Gimignano. Lucca was great though.
Oh wow this looks an amazing place to visit and stay, this is definitely going on my bucket list as would love to visit x
The high shots I like. A fan of towering stuff here so thank you for this post. heart-pumping post makes life more exciting lol
I loved Italy during our trip couple of years back but there is so much more left there to explore. Nice post with great pictures drawing me back to Italy. Time I planned another trip soon including Tuscany.