Guidebook for San Gimignano
Food Scene
(Tel 0577 940270) 4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
Outdoor terrace on the old town walls with beautiful view over the countryside – on the one side of San Gimignano not to have been built up allowing one to admire an unspoiled view of the countryside. Definitely book in advance and ask for a table on the terrace rather than indoors if you want the view. Indoors is nice as well with vaulted ceilings but typically diners prefer to be outside in summer.
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Le Vecchie Mura
15 Via Piandornella(Tel 0577 940270) 4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
Outdoor terrace on the old town walls with beautiful view over the countryside – on the one side of San Gimignano not to have been built up allowing one to admire an unspoiled view of the countryside. Definitely book in advance and ask for a table on the terrace rather than indoors if you want the view. Indoors is nice as well with vaulted ceilings but typically diners prefer to be outside in summer.
(Tel 0588 39001) 4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
The only restaurant in the tiny village of Mazzolla perched on a hill on the road to Volterra. The drive to the village alone is quite magnificent down a long winding road lined with cypresses. If you want one of the few tables in the little square do book.
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Trattoria Albana
69 Via Comunale(Tel 0588 39001) 4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
The only restaurant in the tiny village of Mazzolla perched on a hill on the road to Volterra. The drive to the village alone is quite magnificent down a long winding road lined with cypresses. If you want one of the few tables in the little square do book.
(Tel 0588 35148) 4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
Family run restaurant between Castel San Gimignano and Volterra. The father cooks and will occasionally appear and lean against the wall happily surveying the guests while his son and wife serve. This is a country place where you may find chickens pecking at the ground beside your table. It might help if you say that Michele the ‘architetto irlandese ‘ referred you.
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Locanda Il Boschetto
(Tel 0588 35148) 4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
Family run restaurant between Castel San Gimignano and Volterra. The father cooks and will occasionally appear and lean against the wall happily surveying the guests while his son and wife serve. This is a country place where you may find chickens pecking at the ground beside your table. It might help if you say that Michele the ‘architetto irlandese ‘ referred you.
We have eaten excellent and slightly innovative Tuscan food at the or lunch at their very good Albergo Le Terme 0577 887150 A risotto of red radicchio and red wine on a sort of parmesan waffle was quite delicious.
Albergo Le Terme
13 Piazza delle SorgentiWe have eaten excellent and slightly innovative Tuscan food at the or lunch at their very good Albergo Le Terme 0577 887150 A risotto of red radicchio and red wine on a sort of parmesan waffle was quite delicious.
Drinks & Nightlife
Small wine bar off the main street with a good selection of wines and nice panini as an accompaniment. They sell wine from one of the finest wine makers in San Gimignano a slightly eccentric and expansive woman by the name of Elisabetta Fagiuoli - the vineyard is called Montenidoli.
Enoteca Da Gustavo Di Becucci Maristella
29 Via S. MatteoSmall wine bar off the main street with a good selection of wines and nice panini as an accompaniment. They sell wine from one of the finest wine makers in San Gimignano a slightly eccentric and expansive woman by the name of Elisabetta Fagiuoli - the vineyard is called Montenidoli.
Arts & Culture
Located in San Gimignano, Campatelli is an 18th-century building that features one of the town’s famous medieval towers. The residence of a high-ranking family in the 19th and 20th centuries, Casa Campatelli reconstructs - through its fornitures, decor, paintings and private mementos - the ambience and history of a traditional Tuscan family and society of a bygone age, set against the background of 1000 years of history, recounted with sophisticated digital technology that encapsulates the origin of the legend of San Gimignano, givin visitors a deeper insight unto the town.
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FAI - Tower and Casa Campatelli
15 Via S. GiovanniLocated in San Gimignano, Campatelli is an 18th-century building that features one of the town’s famous medieval towers. The residence of a high-ranking family in the 19th and 20th centuries, Casa Campatelli reconstructs - through its fornitures, decor, paintings and private mementos - the ambience and history of a traditional Tuscan family and society of a bygone age, set against the background of 1000 years of history, recounted with sophisticated digital technology that encapsulates the origin of the legend of San Gimignano, givin visitors a deeper insight unto the town.
Sightseeing
Museum: Palazzo Comunale, Pinacoteca Torre Grossa
Visit the old rooms and halls from which the city has been governed for centuries and then climb to the top of the tower of the Podesta, the tallest tower and look down upon the city.
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市政厅、画廊和大塔
2 Piazza DuomoMuseum: Palazzo Comunale, Pinacoteca Torre Grossa
Visit the old rooms and halls from which the city has been governed for centuries and then climb to the top of the tower of the Podesta, the tallest tower and look down upon the city.
Nearby is the tiny walled town of Monteriggione. The restaurants and bars in the town are not great so if thirsty or in need of some good fare stop at the Bar Orso below the town. You will see this is a popular stop with local workman and has some of the best Ribollita we have tasted (typically a winter dish so may not be available in summer months).
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Monteriggioni
Nearby is the tiny walled town of Monteriggione. The restaurants and bars in the town are not great so if thirsty or in need of some good fare stop at the Bar Orso below the town. You will see this is a popular stop with local workman and has some of the best Ribollita we have tasted (typically a winter dish so may not be available in summer months).
Visit the Rocca – the fortress which is the oldest part of the town. You can then note how the town expanded and where a second set of walls was built – As you climb up Via San Giovanni and enter the Piazza della Cisterna you will pass under a tall archway which was once the city gate. As you climb the Via San Matteo on the other side you will find the other gate just by the pharmacy/farmacia – about 60 metres below the Piazza del Duomo. It was at this point that the church was turned around to be accessible from the Piazza del Duomo which is why it faces West and not East.
Via della Rocca
Via della RoccaVisit the Rocca – the fortress which is the oldest part of the town. You can then note how the town expanded and where a second set of walls was built – As you climb up Via San Giovanni and enter the Piazza della Cisterna you will pass under a tall archway which was once the city gate. As you climb the Via San Matteo on the other side you will find the other gate just by the pharmacy/farmacia – about 60 metres below the Piazza del Duomo. It was at this point that the church was turned around to be accessible from the Piazza del Duomo which is why it faces West and not East.
One of the old ruling cities in the area, endlessly struggling for power with Pisa, Siena and Florence. Although a small hilltop town, the style of the architecture suggests its greater stature in the middle ages, by comparison with San Gimignano.
Etruscan Museum very much worth a visit. Roman amphitheatre and find the Etruscan archway dating from around 700 BC which suggests the Romans did not invent the arch but the Etruscans.
Cathedral with magnificent gilded ceiling and a unique painted wooden Sculpture of the deposition from the cross . St Linus the second pope after St Peter was from Volterra.
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Volterra
One of the old ruling cities in the area, endlessly struggling for power with Pisa, Siena and Florence. Although a small hilltop town, the style of the architecture suggests its greater stature in the middle ages, by comparison with San Gimignano.
Etruscan Museum very much worth a visit. Roman amphitheatre and find the Etruscan archway dating from around 700 BC which suggests the Romans did not invent the arch but the Etruscans.
Cathedral with magnificent gilded ceiling and a unique painted wooden Sculpture of the deposition from the cross . St Linus the second pope after St Peter was from Volterra.
The jewel in the crown of the Val d’Orcia is Pienza. This extraordinary and tiny town, is well worth visiting. Walk across a perfect Renaissance town in 10 minutes – it is a bit like a miniature city. It started as an anonymous village but happened to be the birthplace of Silvio Piccolomini who upon becoming Pope Pius II decided to transform it into the ideal Renaissance town.
Pienza is known for its Pecorino cheese so do sit down at one of the many osterias and try some.
From Pienza it is 15km to Montepulciano and 20 to Montalcino – both renowned for their wine.
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皮恩札
The jewel in the crown of the Val d’Orcia is Pienza. This extraordinary and tiny town, is well worth visiting. Walk across a perfect Renaissance town in 10 minutes – it is a bit like a miniature city. It started as an anonymous village but happened to be the birthplace of Silvio Piccolomini who upon becoming Pope Pius II decided to transform it into the ideal Renaissance town.
Pienza is known for its Pecorino cheese so do sit down at one of the many osterias and try some.
From Pienza it is 15km to Montepulciano and 20 to Montalcino – both renowned for their wine.
Parks & Nature
One of our favourite local walks is to Castelvecchio – the town in the woods that was abandoned in the endless tussles of power and finally the plague. The same might have befallen San Gimignano which was not much bigger at that time. Drive 1200 +/- metres up the road away from San Gimignano. You will start to pass San Donato village on your left and on your right you will see the a steep road up to the right sign posted for Il Caggio. Follow this as far as you can go and then park and climb down the hill under the electricity pylons. The walk up is quite steep so appropriate footwear needed.
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Castelvecchio
One of our favourite local walks is to Castelvecchio – the town in the woods that was abandoned in the endless tussles of power and finally the plague. The same might have befallen San Gimignano which was not much bigger at that time. Drive 1200 +/- metres up the road away from San Gimignano. You will start to pass San Donato village on your left and on your right you will see the a steep road up to the right sign posted for Il Caggio. Follow this as far as you can go and then park and climb down the hill under the electricity pylons. The walk up is quite steep so appropriate footwear needed.
Bagno Vignoni, an ancient spa town (village) where Saint Catherine of Siena and Lorenzo dei Medici took the waters, although not together. The water tumbles down the cliff and after a visit of the town (0577 887150) you can go and lie in the warm silty waters.
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Bagno Vignoni
Bagno Vignoni, an ancient spa town (village) where Saint Catherine of Siena and Lorenzo dei Medici took the waters, although not together. The water tumbles down the cliff and after a visit of the town (0577 887150) you can go and lie in the warm silty waters.
Shopping
Poggibonsi
Tuesday Poggibonsi (our favourite – a big market with good food and clothing)
We recommend Poggibonsi for clothes shopping – take the main street Via della Republica and branch out from there. Fabulous shop specializing in shirts is Nara Camicie.
Via della Repubblica
Via della RepubblicaWe recommend Poggibonsi for clothes shopping – take the main street Via della Republica and branch out from there. Fabulous shop specializing in shirts is Nara Camicie.
Essentials
Coop
27 Via BaccanellaWell catered supermarket though at busy times hard to park. only 3KM from us.
Large supermarket with great food and also a good selection of clothing upstairs. Next door Scarpa Mondo can provide some well priced shoes for all the family!
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Pam Barberino Val D'Elsa
Via San GimignanoLarge supermarket with great food and also a good selection of clothing upstairs. Next door Scarpa Mondo can provide some well priced shoes for all the family!