San Gimignano Holidays

San Gimignano is a remarkable medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, set on a particularly high hilltop in the Tuscan countryside. This fortified marvel is the historic equivalent of a modern high-rise city, with steel skyscrapers replaced with dizzyingly high ancient towers, and noisy alleyways swapped for uneven cobbled lanes.

The town’s 14 towers are a fraction of the 72 that once stood, but the impact is still impressive, with almost every square and street watched over by these soaring monoliths. For those with a head for heights, the tower tops offer unrivalled panoramas of the town’s winding lanes and the beautiful surrounding countryside. The 14th-century Torre Grosse is the best of these, and offers spectacular views from more than 170 feet above the streets. For those wanting to immerse themselves in history, the wonderfully tranquil Rocca di Montestaffoli is a must. This crumbling structure was once a fortress and a convent, although now it offers an atmospheric wild garden and one modest tower, with surprisingly good views over the countryside. If you’re in the mood for shopping, make sure you look out for some of the artisan workshops hidden in the town’s lanes – local photography and handmade ceramics are just some of the wares available.

Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30, Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.

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Call us on 01293 900934

Handpicked hotels in San Gimignano

Discover the real San Gimignano while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels

Tuscany, Tuscany Countryside

Casa Vacanze Le Cellole

Located 2 miles from medieval San Gimignano with shops and restaurants
Apartments can sleep up to 4 people

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Recommended

Tuscany, Tuscany Countryside

Villasanpaolo Spa Resort

Located just a short drive from San Gimignano
Large spa with heated indoor swimming pool and gym

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Things to do in San Gimignano

The best thing to do in San Gimignano is the most obvious – scale a tower or two. Torre Grosse tops the Palazzo Comunale museum, while Torre e Casa Campatelli is part of a 19th-century noble’s house.

But some of the best views come courtesy of the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano. Make sure to admire the 14th-century frescoes before climbing the tower, which gives up valley views. Alternatively, head to San’Agostino Church. It doesn’t have a tower, but it does have a cloistered square.

Piazza della Cisterna is another must-see. This triangular market square is the liveliest spot in San Gimignano, stacking up gelato parlours and cafés.

Things to doAdmire the TowersWhen visiting the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano, it’s immediately apparent why it's known as the City of Towers; originally thought to be 72 built in total, the 14 that remain dominate the skyline for miles around.
Find out more about the Towers

Things to doLeaning Tower of PisaThe construction of Italy’s most famous bell tower started in 1173, and went on for about 200 years. Find out more about the leaning tower of Pisa

Things to doMuseum of wineThe Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Museum is housed in the Villa della Rocca di Montestaffoli and offers a journey into the history and production of wine, predominantly the well known Vernaccia from San Gimignano.Find out more about the museum of wine

Things to doWine TastingTuscany's iconic landscape of lush green hills dotted with expansive vineyards offers the perfect opportunity to sample its best-known wines. Find out more about wine tasting

Flight Information

The majority of international flights arrive into Pisa airport (PSA). Direct flights to Pisa are available from Belfast, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle and take approximately 2 hours.

When to go

Tuscany is predominantly a summer destination, with the main tourist season generally running from April to October. Temperatures are at their hottest in July and August, this is also when Tuscany is at its busiest. However, Tuscany also enjoys a mild climate in spring and autumn with temperatures rarely going beneath 20 degrees which makes it perfect for visiting at the beginning or end of season too. The coast has wonderful sea breezes and the hilltop towns are much cooler than the lower countryside villages. The best time to visit is during the quieter season, from April to June and September to October when the weather is good, prices are a bit lower and there are fewer crowds. There are many festivals and events throughout the year in Tuscany and Easter and Christmas are always busy.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.

On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.

On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.