Two years ago my work brought me to the quaint town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. I fell in love and wanted to share some of my experience there. Learn why this medieval village should be on your list of places to see:
Perfect Day Trip from Florence
To begin, San Gimignano is about 1 hour outside of Florence so it makes for the perfect day trip. This medieval town feels as though it’s frozen in time. The historic center is deemed a UN World Heritage site and is surrounded by city walls that date back hundreds of years.
Getting there
The best way to visit San Gimignano would be via rental car or with a day tour group. The area is surrounded by vineyards so it’s a great opportunity to also tie in a wine tasting as well. I recommend the company Ciao Florence if you’re staying in the city. They offer a variety of day trips depending on what you’re looking to see. I would recommend their Day Tour from Florence to Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni & Chianti with Wine Tasting.
Although I only had a few hours to explore this beautiful Tuscan village, it was all I needed. It is very walkable. You can pop into local shops and take in all the quiet backroads. Keep in mind that since this town sits high on a hill, there is a lot of incline walking to get there from where you park.
Gelateria Dondoli
One of my favorite memories from San Gimignano was getting gelato for breakfast. Yes – you read that right! I ate gelato for breakfast and it was so good. I even got a second cone after walking around a bit. It’s home to Gelateria Dondoli, deemed one of the best gelato shops in the world! It has won countless prizes throughout the years. Now I hope you can understand how I was able to eat two cones of gelato before noon! So many flavors to try and so little time.
While my time was short, San Gimignano stamped itself on my heart. I look forward to the day when I can get back to the many beautiful villages throughout the Tuscan region. Check out our other post about Wine Tasting in Tuscany for other fun activities in this region.
Ciao, Amanda
