San Gimignano rises on a high hill about 300 m high and owes its name to the bishop of Modena who defended the village from the invasion of Attila.
Already inhabited in the Etruscan period, it had a prosperous development in the medieval period thanks above all to the Via Francigena that crossed it (and the cross), an important communication and trade route of the time; this meant that the city became a significant point of reference for traders, merchants and wayfarers but above all for the numerous faithful who went on pilgrimage to Rome.
After numerous struggles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the government of the city was in the hands of the Ghibelline faction and it is precisely at that time that the greatest economic splendor was based, based on the trade of precious local agricultural products, including the precious and highly sought-after saffron; in the middle of 1200, however, the city was conquered by the Guelphs of Florence who destroyed the walls and other public works built by the enemy faction. Following the bloody battle of Montaperti in 1260 which saw the Ghibellines of Siena and the Guelphs of Florence opposed and won by the Sienese faction, San Gimignano returned under the Ghibelline rule which had the walls rebuilt and divided the city into 4 districts corresponding each to a of the main gates of the town: Piazza, Castello, San Matteo and San Giovanni.
San Gimignano is famous throughout the world for its towers (it seems that they have inspired the builders of the infamous twin towers of Manhattan) built precisely in the period of greater development and economic prosperity; the gentlemen had them erected to demonstrate all their power and the higher they were, the more it meant that the master was powerful. At the time there were 72 towers, the highest of which (and still is) was the "Torre del Podestà" also known as "Torre Grossa" which stood out with its 54 m height; today, on the other hand, there are only 16, the others have been torn down or partially destroyed during the bombardments of the world wars.
In 1990 San Gimignano was declared a cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

In addition, the ideal strategic location is ideal for the Villa allows easy access to other nearby cities, also of considerable interest.
The splendid Siena, a famous medieval town known throughout the world for its "Palio", horse race that takes place in the famous "Piazza del Campo" on July 2nd and August 16th of every year.
Just 20 km away is Monteriggioni, a charming fortified medieval village, 15 km Colle Val d'Elsa, also known as the "city of crystal" for its craft industries that produce precisely crystal.
Volterra, Etruscan city, just 25 km.
Moving towards the Val d'Orcia, 90 km away, you can reach Montalcino, home of the famous Brunello wine and a little further, about 115 km, Pienza, famous for its pecorino cheese.
Just 45 km away is the beautiful and Renaissance Florence and 47 km Vinci, the city that gave birth to Leonardo of ser Piero da Vinci.
A little further on, at 90 km, is Pisa with its "Piazza dei Miracoli" which houses the famous "leaning tower" and at 125 km Lucca, a lovely Renaissance city at the foot of the Apuan Alps.
At 52 km, in the town of Chiusdino, stands the imposing Abbey of San Galgano, a striking Latin-cross basilica with 3 naves, famous for its walls without roofs and without the floor which in spring is covered with a green grass; a few steps, walking up the path on the hill of Montesiepi, in the small church in the woods you can admire the "sword in the rock" that Galgano Guidotti, arrogant and violent noble, in full religious conversion, stuck into the ground as a sign of renounces violence in order to create with it a cross on which to pray.
At 94 km from San Gimignano it is possible to reach Bagno Vignoni which boasts one of the most evocative and particular squares of the world occupied by a large pool where thermal water is collected that flows from the subsoil at 52 ° C and around which everything is developed. the small village.
Finally, in the surroundings of San Gimignano, just a few kilometers away, you should visit Certaldo Alto, the Parish Church of Pancole and San Vivaldo.