San Gimignano, Italy

Following our Mediterranean cruise, we visited San Gimignano with some other family members for a few days. This is a gorgeous, historic castle town in Tuscany. We loved the old-timey feel with its cobblestone streets and medieval towers. It was like traveling back in time. We do not recommend driving your own car much through here as the streets are tiny and full of pedestrians. We learned this the hard way. However, this was an unforgettable adventure and one of our favorite spots that we have visited throughout our travels.

Where to stay: 

  • La Cisterna – A quaint hotel within the walls of the medieval towers and houses. It is right near the Piazza della Cisterna.

Where to eat:

  • We enjoyed all of our meals in this village, but we do recommend venturing a little away from the main square (unless indulging in some Italian Ice) as they are less touristy and consist of more authentic menu choices. 
  • Le Terrazze – This was quite convenient for us on our first night as it is attached to our hotel, La Cisterna. We were pleasantly surprised with yummy pizza, wine, and a great view. 

What to do:

  • Wine Tasting Tour – Ask your hotel for suggestions or to help set you up with a group or private wine tasting experience. This link lists some options, but we did one recommended by our hotel. We were treated to a private tour of some beautiful vineyards, a delicious lunch, and great history.
  • Visit Piazza della Cisterna – This area is surrounded by beautiful architecture and contains some lovely cafes and ice cream shops.
  • Piazza del Duomo – Really anywhere you go in San Gimignano can be considered an attraction, but this is another lively square with an ancient church to visit.
  • Visit The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta
  • Historic Centre of San Gimignano – A UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Rocca of Montestaffoli – Here, you can climb to the top of this fortress on a hill to get amazing views of the town.

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