San Gimignano {Medieval Manhattan}

San Gimignano, or Medieval Manhattan, as it is called, is one of my favorite Etruscan towns... San Gimignano is definitely a quaint and relaxing town, like Montepulciano that is loaded with charm, fantastic food and spectacular views.  Come join me on a little tour of San G!

San Gimignano dates back to 63 B.C. and was started by two brothers who were escaping Rome!

 Thirteen of the seventy two towers remain in the village today and used to be a sign of power and wealth in the fourteenth century. The taller the tower, the richer you were. This once bustling and wealthy city was almost completely wiped out during The Black Plague. This prosperous city fell into darkness, poverty, and decay for centuries.

Now, San Gimignano is glowing with world class food, wine, pottery, and tourism.

It is a fantastic city where you feel the history oozing out its pores. Every corner and alley has incredible views.
Walking down the gorgeous streets and alleys of the spectacular Tuscan town reminded me of when I came here with my precious grandparents ten years ago. We even ate at the Trattoria Chiribiri (which is a MUST) again. My family likes to order all different things and share family style, so instead of only trying one thing, we get to sample a wide variety of house specialties!

 

Like all the other Italian cities, I recommend doing San Gimignano in the spring or fall to avoid tourists, heat, and locals who may be burned out from all of the rude tourists. Once again, anyone who has done a lot of traveling knows that traveling Southern Europe in the summer is less favorable than the more moderate weather seasons.  (Also, try to avoid holiday and spring-break crowds!)

This fabulous city is a must while traveling trough Tuscany and the unique architecture will definitely leave a huge impression!

Go... enjoy San Gimignano and be sure to get yourself some of the worlds Best Gelato (there are two award winning ones in the city center!)... seriously, its beyond phenomenal! Relax, stroll through the center, shut your eyes, smell the chestnuts roasting, listen to the church bells and one of the most romantic languages, and  simply savor the moment

Ciao!