San Gimignano

San Gimignano is recognizable from afar, even before you enter the city: a skyline of medieval towers that earned it the nickname "Manhattan of Tuscany." At its peak, the city boasted as many as 72 towers. Only 14 remain. The question few ask is: why did such a small city need to build so many?

Towers as a symbol of power, not defense.

The towers of San Gimignano were not, for the most part, military structures. They were status symbols: local noble families competed with each other to build the tallest tower, a sign of wealth and political influence. It is architecture as social competition, not as a defensive necessity, which explains the unusual concentration of vertical constructions in such a small space.

The problem (and the solution) of mass tourism.

San Gimignano receives a volume of visitors disproportionate to its size, concentrated mainly between 11 am and 4 pm. Those who arrive in the early morning or late afternoon find a different city: empty streets, better light for photography, and easier access to Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the only Tuscan white wine with DOCG designation.

Connection with Lucca

San Gimignano is about an hour and a half's drive from Lucca. It is often combined with Siena or Volterra on day trips, and represents a direct contrast to Lucca: while Lucca preserves its almost intact Renaissance walls and a daily life largely unaffected by tourism, San Gimignano today lives mainly off the tourism economy.

Want to know the best time to visit San Gimignano without the crowds? See our posts about sightseeing in Tuscany.