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San Gimigniamo World Heritage Site

A quick 45 minutes drive down the Firenze-Siena superstrada (this can be joined from Firenze Certosa on the main Autostrada) lies San Gimigniano a historic town with famous towers and glorious views. A town declared by UNESCO as part of the world’s historical heritage. At more than 300 metres high the imposing towers dominate the Elsa Valley below.

The town started its life in the 10th century taking it’s name from the Bishop of Modena St. Gimignano who saved the village from hoardes of raiding barbarians. During the middle ages the town increased in wealth largely due to the trading of the pilgrims that passed through the town. This in turn brought the decorative arts to the churches and monasteries.

In 1348 the population of the town was culled by the Black death and eventually (San Gimigniano having managed to become independent municipality in 1199) became part of Florence in 1353.

In the centuries that followed San Gimignano rediscovered it’s agricultural heritage and today it can be found on many visitng tourists itineraries.

Things not to miss:

• The Duomo: from 1148 this impressive building is adorned with frescoes.
• The Museum of Sacred Art: lots of canvassas and sacred works of art
• The Archeological Museum: Etruscan, Roman and Medieval findings from the town.
• The Church of St. Agostino: Frescoes, tablets and artworThe Torture museum: A medieval torture musuem, fun if fairly gruesome!

The walls of Monteriggioni one of Italy’s most recognised “walled towns”.

Monteriggioni

A small medieval town called Monteriggioni, built in 1213, lies on the way to San Gimigniano, it is one of Italy’s most familiar and well known walled towns.

The Duomo of Florence

Designed by Arnolfo Cambio at the close of the 13th Century the Duomo of Firenze is one of Florence’s internationally recognised symbols. The magnificient Cupola [seen right] was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cambio died in 1302 and work was halted.Thirty years later the artist Giotto agreed to work on the Duomo but he only managed to complete the bell-tower before he died in 1337. Twenty-seven years later the old cathedral was taken down and a new one started, this some one-hundred years after the initial plans were drawn up.

View from the Duomo of Florence

It was at this point that Brunelleschi designed the great dome. The dome is in fact made up of two domes, one that is seen from the outside and another which can be viewed from the interior of the cathedral – where frescoes by Paolo Uccello adorn the cupola. It was not until 1436 that the cathedral was finally completed.

Opening Times:

10:00 – 17:00 , Mon-Sat,
13:00-15:00 Sundays and Religious Holidays
Church: Times vary according to type of services held.

Baptistery:
13:30 – 18:30 Mon-Sat;
8:30-13:30 Sunday.