“Town of Fine Towers.”

We love exploring this medieval town in Tuscany! The architecture is gorgeous and makes you feel like you are transported to another time. It is an easy day trip including a train ride and bus ride from Florence. We bought train tickets on the app Trainline and you can buy bus tickets inside the train station up to San Gimignano and the bus stop is just up the hill.

Where to Eat

Our favorite winery is just outside the town and is easy to get to by a taxi! It’s called Fattoria Poggio Alloro. I made a reservation for lunch by emailing them from their website. We had a four course meal with unlimited wine for 78 euros which is about $90 US, so $45 per person. The first time we ate here we were on a tour and it was the best wine we have had all over Italy and the food was amazing so we knew we had to come back! The views of San Gimignano and Tuscany are swoon worthy! We bought wine and extra virgin olive oil from them in bulk and had to shipped home. It is cheaper if you purchase it there and in large quantities, but you are able to buy again from them on their website. Our family and friends love when we bring our special wine from Italy to special occasions. If you are in the area this is a must to add to your bucket list!

History

San Gimignano was a thriving trading hub during the Middle Ages, first founded as a small village in the 3rd century B.C. And later renamed in the 5th century A.D. as the town grew. During the 11th and 12th centuries wealthy families competed to build towering stone homes as symbols of their power and status. At one point, more than 70 towers stretched toward the sky, though only 14 remain today. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre site and truly is a place that has stood the test of time. It feels like a fairytale walking through the cobblestone streets and imagining how much life these stone buildings have seen over the centuries.

Gelato

Gelateria Dondoli is where we have had the best gelato ever so far! They have won multiple world championships for the best gelato and it is SO true. Our favorite is the Nutella gelato. As you can see the line is always super long but honestly it moves very fast and is totally worth the wait.

San Gimignano is a great place to explore for the day with breathtaking buildings and views of the Tuscan countryside. The town is built on the rolling hills so be prepared to walk the cobblestone streets up and down the hills, you will get your steps in. We loved window shopping and looking at all the small shops throughout the town and we found some pretty cool souvenirs here. Make sure to add San Gimignano to your bucket list while visiting Tuscany!