Ironically called the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, San Gimignano still constitutes a rare example in the world of medieval towered villages and has remained virtually unchanged since the thirteenth century. During the medieval period, the presence of important trades mainly related to the sale of saffron and to the presence of the Via Francigena, still the main thoroughfare of the town, allowed the wealthy local families to erect the numerous tower houses that were the status symbols of the ancient merchant class. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its characteristic medieval architecture and the beautiful surrounding landscape dotted with vineyards of the famous Vernaccia grape, San Gimignano offers the visitor a real blast from the past. The itinerary of the visit starts from Porta S. Giovanni, and after passing along the ancient route of the Via Francigena, ends at Porta S. Matteo after visiting Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza del Duomo with the Collegiate and the Palazzo del Podestà, the Salvucci towers, the most powerful Ghibelline family of the city, the charming medieval urban fabric and the Church of St. Augustine which houses an important cycle of frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli.

It is also possible to:
A) Go inside the Collegiate, which contains beautiful pieces of art by Lippo and Federico Memmi, Bartolo di Fredi, Benozzo Gozzoli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Jacopo dellaQuercia.
B) Visit the City Museum, which shows numerous important works of the Sienese school from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century.