How long does it take to fall in love? A second? That’s too short for me. A minute? That’s still a little bit too short. An hour or two? Now that sounds about right! That’s how long it took for me to fall in love with San Gimignano. I travelled to this quaint village as part of a day tour of Tuscany from Florence many years ago. There are so many reasons to like San Gimignano, but here’s why I fell in love with this adorable Tuscan village:
The Medieval Architecture
I’m such a sucker for medieval architecture and stories! It conjures up images of princesses in towers, brave knights, and dangerous dragons. Of course, you don’t see the princesses, knights or dragons, they lurk in the shadows…The village is truly beautiful.
All the Towers
During the medieval times, San Gimignano had no less than 72 towers. Towers were seen as status symbols, symbols of wealth and power. Today, only 14 towers are left standing. I climbed the most popular and highest tower in the village, Torre Grossa.
That View
San Gimignano was built on a hilltop. Add to that the tall towers and you have one stunning view of the village and the surrounding area.
The Best Gelato in the World (and Italy)
That is quite a bold statement to make! But that is exactly the title that Gelateria Dondoli won, Gelato World Champion. Don’t be surprised if you have to queue for the delicious gelato, but it’s worth the wait. Trust me on that! This was the best gelato I ate in Italy during my two-week trip.
Drinking Vernaccia di San Gimignano
I love a glass of good wine, don’t you? I always prefer red wine, but San Gimignano is known for the production of white wine. The wine is called Vernaccia di San Gimignano and it had me questioning my love for red wine.
Speciality Shops
I remember the shops vividly, even years later. Let me tell you what they were not. They were not the regular tourist shops that you can find in every Italian city. They sold unique souvenirs, many of which were handmade.
Why I want to return
Given to short amount of time I spent in the village and the huge impression it made on me, I definitely want to go back. For one thing, I have a better camera now, which means better photographs. And this time I want to stay at least a couple of days. I want to eat gelato twice a day, drink wine, take in the beautiful surroundings and climb as many towers as I can!
Have you visited San Gimignano before? Did you like the village? Let me know in the comment section below.
