San Gimignano, Italy skyline: the 19 most iconic buildings and best views in San Gimignano

We love the medieval "village" at the heart of the uniquely beautiful city of San Gimignano. The city is well preserved, and it feels like it's frozen in time. One can imagine how these folks with their horses going about their business during those days. The atmosphere in the morning is peaceful and if you enjoy your running, this city has many interesting elevation to add to your training. The cobblestone is another challenge that keeps you vigilant and to train your foot placement. Expect loads of visitors as the day approach to lunch and dinner. Food and drinks (wine & beer) are tops, as the Italians are proud of their traditional culinary and wine culture.

The Piazza della Cisterna is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in San Gimignano, a medieval town .since the 1990s the square — and San Gimignano as a whole — has become quite touristy. During the main travel season, it can feel crowded, with many souvenir shops and large tour groups. Still, early mornings or late evenings often bring back the magic of its medieval charm.

This was actually my favorite piazza in San Gimignano. It's the one with the old cistern, or well. There's always a bunch of people sitting on it as they do on the steps in other public squares. What's unusual is that this square is really in the shape of a triangle. You'll also see the Devil's Tower near the cistern. It has been said that the owner returned to find his tower taller than it was when he left it. Lol! That's kind of spooky. What I loved most about this medieval piazza is the famous gelato shop. It was a historical and tasty experience.

Historical & Beautiful square in the centre of San Gimignano I love medieval city and SG did not disappoint. In fact it is famous for the tower but some of the little square that are in the town are really amazing. Piazza della Cisterna is one of them, here we had a drink and were lucky to be here the day of the market, so bought a few things too. I highly recommend coming here, this city is great and perched so looks really great from the roads below.

The most beautiful piazza in San Gimignano that gets very crowded during the day, but turns into a fairy tale after sunset (if you have accomodation inside the old city, you can enjoy such beauty). It is filled with history, dark stories, but is also nicely kept. And if you want to try "la dolce vita", just buy some Riserva wine in a restaurant nearby, sit and enjoy the view, the changing lights, the music (in summer, there are concerts nearby) and the wine.

I love this place! There is a great ice-cream place there with lots of flavour choice. This year we wanted to try the one called Michelle Obama but they changed the flavour and called it Michelle. It was still not bad at all! P.S. the queue goes really fast

Charming medieval town. Climbing to the top of tower for breathtaking view of ancient city and Tuscany hills absolute must

One of the "must try" when in Gimignano, climbing the Torre Grossa will offer the best views over this superb medieval city, but also over the Tuscan fields. It is indeed hard to climb the stairs, especially the few ones at the top, but it is worth it.

Great place to visit when in San Gimignano. We went in when it opened at 10am so it wasn’t busy. They have redone the stairs so it’s quite an easy walk up - if you are tall you will need to duck your head at the end. The views are breathtaking! You then get to descend and walk into a great little museum. Would greatly recommend when visiting San Gimignano.

This city is like a hidden jam of Tuscany. We just looked at the map and randomly decided to come, and you become a cross this amazing museum and the city itself was very beautiful and old however, it wasn’t busy at all not very risky which is nice I would highly recommend to come and check it out if you haven’t.

A great place with a great view of the city. I definitely want to mention the very kind and helpful man at the ticket office. I have poor eyesight and my English isn't very good, but he patiently explained everything! Thank you, this is exactly what helps you develop a wonderful attitude towards the country! The people in Tuscany are incredible!

Great place with beautiful view, you can buy tickets in full city pass. That grant's you access to tower, tower museum and museum next to tower, it all costs only 15 euro

Lovely place. A must see when in San Gimignano! I suggest you get the San Gimignano pass, since it does save you money if you visit more than two attractions

Tallest vantage point of the town. A bunch of stairs inside tower. A little unnerving for those with anxiety.

Here you can see how the medieval towers look like from the inside. The museum has the house of those who lived there in the 19th century. It is well preserved and has wonderful views out. There is a video for maybe 30 min explaining the history of San Gimignano which was quite interesting.

Excellent views of the Tuscan countryside and of the town! Highly recommend visiting the town and climbing the tower!

You can live the town’s history through the stories told by the objects in this preserved home. Comes with a fantastic documentary of Tuscany and then the ability to explore up close real artifiacts of the home. Great views of the countryside from the balcony. Awesome organization!

Absolutely to visit! When all the tourists are walking around and just watching towers this is the place where you can really back in time. Beautiful house. The film on the top floor about history of San Gimignano was super interesting.

An excellent video presentation about the history of the town, which you don't often get elsewhere. The house itself is amazing and you can get up close to everything. The ladies at the ticket desk were lovely and very helpful.

Beautiful intimate museum with highly informative audio visual presentation which outline the history of San Gimignano.

Beautiful villa in the heart of San Gimignano.

May 2025. We visited the museum and church. Nice wall-to-wall frescoes in the interior.

⛪ Duomo of San Gimignano: A Hidden Gem of Sacred Art in Tuscany The Duomo of San Gimignano, officially known as the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, is one of the most captivating religious sites in Tuscany. Nestled in the heart of this medieval hilltop town, the cathedral may appear modest from the outside—but step inside, and you’re immersed in a world of extraordinary frescoes, spiritual depth, and artistic heritage. 🎨 A Masterpiece of Fresco Cycles The interior walls are adorned with vibrant 14th- and 15th-century frescoes that narrate biblical stories with stunning clarity and emotion. The Old Testament cycle by Bartolo di Fredi and the New Testament cycle by Lippo Memmi and others are visual storytelling at its finest. Every panel is rich in color, detail, and symbolism—making the Duomo a living textbook of medieval theology and artistry. 🌟 Chapel of Saint Fina One of the most moving spaces is the Chapel of Saint Fina, dedicated to San Gimignano’s beloved patron saint. Decorated by Domenico Ghirlandaio, the frescoes depict scenes from the life of Saint Fina with tenderness and grace. The chapel’s serene atmosphere invites quiet reflection and offers a glimpse into the town’s spiritual soul. 🏛️ Architectural Harmony Built in Romanesque style, the Duomo features elegant arches, a simple yet majestic nave, and a warm, golden light that enhances the intimacy of the space. Unlike grand cathedrals in Florence or Siena, the Duomo of San Gimignano feels personal and contemplative—perfectly in tune with the town’s character. 🎫 Worth the Visit Admission includes access to the adjacent Museo d’Arte Sacra, which houses religious artifacts, paintings, and sculptures that deepen the experience. Combined, the Duomo and museum offer a rich cultural and spiritual journey that’s not to be missed.

Lovely place to sit and reflect but can get very busy. But just sit and let the crowds go by, there are some amazing fresco's and a must see imo

Amazing Duomo with a lot of nice Frescos within! Buy the all inclusive ticket which also gives you access to the Tower, museum and art gallery. Don’t forget the free audio guide! The church has a lot of history and has a marvelous interior

Nice church for the area but pales in comparison to other options in Italy. Still nice to look at for a quick visit.

It's a really really cool church that's undeniable. I'm giving 3 stars because a.) there is a price for entry and b.) it is HEAVILY obscured. There are 3 or 4 signs around the building not saying the price. The only place you can find it is by lining up outside the ticket office. To me this is a mildly manipulative practice because of sunk cost falicy. Feels a little un Christian. I dearly hope the money I spent to go inside is used to help preserve it and not for something else.

This Duomo surprises once you are inside. All the walls here are covered with colourful frescoes. Definitely a topper and not to be missed in this small city.

San Gimignano is an Italian hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. Encircled by 13th-century walls, its old town centers on Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular square lined with medieval houses. It has a skyline of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San Gimignano is a 12th-century church with frescoes by Ghirlandaio in its Santa Fina Chapel.

The museum is a little off the main tourist road up the slope. This is probably why this great museum is not overcrowded, although it does not cost any admission. But for a donation, young and old can marvel at a bombastic miniature version of the city from around 1300. Impressive above all because it comes very close to its current state.

Really enjoyed the perspective of seeing the entire walled city. Came back after walking tour as lovely gift shop with purchases supporting the museum/display.

Very cool model of the entire San Gimignano village. Free entry. Helps you get a feel for the scope and also explains the tower houses and how they worked. Definitely worth taking a look at!

Small but lots of history and access to the tower.

It is free 3D recreation of the town as 1300. It says that 2 brothers made it in 2 years. Must see place. Do not forget to support it by buying some nice gifts to your loved ones.

If you have ever thought about old Tuscany this is like a dream. Beautiful architecture with a human scale. It just feels good to wander around this hilltop city. Outstanding.

During my trip to San Gimignano I visited the Museum of Torture located near the heart of the old town. The exhibits are intense and shocking but historically informative. You will see original and replica instruments that illustrate how brutal justice once was. While the space is not too large, the museum is well curated with multilingual descriptions. Not for the faint-hearted, but definitely a unique and eye-opening stop that adds depth to the cultural experience of the city. I would recommend it if you are interested in history or dark tourism.

Very illustrated and easy to understand museum. It is quite scary and we all had a very bad stomach ache afterwards but this was expectable concerning the issue at hand. The topics are diverse and all time periods are considered.

Interesting activity to do inside. There are two small museums, located in two different locations. They aren’t too far apart. We arrived about an hour before close and had the option to see the second one the next day, just had to keep the receipt. We were able to do both museums in an hour.

Very exciting place if you're not afraid of going into the scary and dark part of the italian history. Good experience but it was too hard to find the second building of the museum in the city because of the few signs and guidance.

Very interesting museum, informative and a look back into more primitive times and understanding of the world. Some of the devices are a clear inspiration for the SAW movies and in certain parts of the world are used to this day. We need to learn from our past mistakes as a collective.

Nice little attraction walking among cafes, ice cream stores etc. friendly staff and easy to navigate with good descriptions of the different things on display.

Great place to visit during day time and summer seasone. the place is little bit high but you have alot what to see :) good luck !

Serene, quiet and peacefully beautiful in the morning. I would presume that the park will get busier as tourist groups visit the place during the day. This is understandable since the park is relatively small. I would recommend that the park is visited earlier in the morning so that the place is still quiet and peaceful.

Nice park with amazing views of the surrounding countryside and the city towers. There are ruins of a fort here. A man in medieval costume was reciting the Divine Comedy quite passionately. Free to enter and definitely worth it!

Really beautiful park worth the trek! Don’t miss it. Lots of beautiful photo ops.

High up in the city there is a wonderful little park with lots of opportunities to chill, read and enjoy. here you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and also have a free panoramic view.

Probably the quietest place you can find in San Gimignano. You can avoid the crowd but enjoy peace here by looking at the Tuscany view and the towers closely.

Charming park in the ruins of a medieval castle. Nice place to sit in the evening and watch the sunset.

Nice little garden with a clibmable tower with a view over the city. Definitely worth a stop if you're in San Gimignano!

The entrance to San Gimignano is as gorgeous as the rest of this medieval fortified city. The wealthiest people of San Gimignano built the highest towers and now these are enjoyed by the locals and the thousands of tourists who visit this place annually.

It's the main gateway into the medieval village of San Gimignano, and not to be confused with the famous one of the same name in Rome. It's located in front of the Martyrs of Montemaggio Square where there's a war memorial to the fallen of San Gimignano. There's also a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside as you walk up to this impressive looking gateway. There are many views like that one as you walk along the walls of this ancient town. However, you'll need to overlook the touristy parts of it so that you can truly appreciate and enjoy it.

A beautiful medieval city that still fully operational. The richest people built the tallest towers, and they now have restaurants and hotels inside those towers. There is also a Roman ruin on the back of the town. Because it was so beautiful, we're now going back to Tuscany to spend the week there

We went here as a small excusion on our way to Rome. We only had 90 min. It is a beautiful l town, clean with well-preserved architecture. I would have spent a few hours here or even an overnight stay. The towers are cool and I think you can spend the night in one

Siena is a striking medieval city built on the top of a hill. Listed as a Unesco world heritage site, it develops around Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city, an exclusive «shell shaped» square where the worldwide known Palio horse ride takes place. Palazzo Comunale, Torre del Mangia and Fonte Gaia are the beauties that overlook this marvellous square. But many other masterpieces of art and architecture are waiting to be admired at a very short walking distance from the square: the Duomo of Siena, the museums, the Church of Santa Caterina and the Medici Fortress.

Nice town with many souvenir shops and different stalls. There is a gelateria dondoli that is highly recommended and long queues, they sell gelatos.

This was a very nice place to see some historical buildings.

Beautiful place and unlike every other sacral building in Italy it seems you don't have to pay to enter ..

The nice thing about the Catholic churches in Tuscany is the modesty. Hardly any swank and gold. More like stone and wood. I notice that positively.

Nice place to visit! Worth it. Beautiful and it's free!!!

Wonderful church with beautiful paints inside. There is also a gilded marble dedicated to S.Giminiano (saint of the city). There is also a Fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli

This church is okay,buy the Duomo is much better. There are some decent frescoes here but about half are damaged severely. I would avoid coming here unless you really have the time, but why not leave town early to go see Siena (or other nearby town) at that point?

The exterior is nice to see, inside it is quite modern and dull

Like everything else in San Gimigniano, the church is a fabulous place, including the Ghirlandaio masterpiece.

(Translated by Google) What can I say... It's simply crazy, amazing house, fantastic location. The managers, two splendid souls who know how to make you feel at home. See you soon (Original) Che dire ... È semplicemente pazzesca casa strepitosa posizione fantastica . I responsabili, due splendide anime che sanno come farti sentire a casa tua . A presto

(Translated by Google) Fantastic location, peaceful environment for a wonderful stay! Call the owner to book a stay here! (Original) Posizione fantastica, ambiente tranquillo per passare un soggiorno meraviglioso! Chiama il proprietario per prenotare un soggiorno da qui!

(Translated by Google) Very nice apartment, Strategic and very quiet location, the owner is very kind and available for any information. We will return (Original) Appartamento molto carino, Posto strategico e molto silenzioso,la proprietaria gentilissima e disponibilissima per qualsiasi informazione. Ci ritorneremo

(Translated by Google) A magnificent two-story apartment with two bathrooms and two bedrooms. Attention to detail, immaculately clean and full of thoughtful touches. Claudia, the host, is wonderful and always attentive. Unbeatable location. (Original) Excelso departamento de 2 pisos, 2 baños y 2 recámaras. Detalles al por mayor, inmaculadamente limpio y lleno de detalles. La anfitriona Claudia es MAGNIFICA SIEMPRE AL PENDIENTE. Inmejorable ubicación.

(Translated by Google) A place that shows a lodging made with Love, impeccable and warm!!! (Original) Una lugar que muestra un hospedaje hecho con Amor, impecable y cálido!!!

(Translated by Google) Enchanting, everything well kept and clean (Original) Incantevole, tutto ben curato e pulito

Check public transportation from Florence to get here it’s a difficult place bus wise to get to. This place is very crowded. You’ll find that most of the establishments to eat at are quite expensive but it’s an interesting visit for the day..

Wonferful place. To visit when you are in Toscana.

Hard to fault when asked to review by Google. Not really sure how it can be anything other than 5 stars: Tower. Tick. Medieval. Tick. Awesome views. Tick. If you're in the neighborhood, get yourself down there.

Breathtaking view and city

Gorgeous

Spectacular!

(Translated by Google) What a spectacle….The entire village with its medieval towers is one of the most evocative in Italy. A must visit if you are in the area! Top! (Original) Che spettacolo….L’intero borgo con le sue torri medievali è uno dei più suggestivi d’Italia. Assolutamente da visitare se vi trovate in zona! Top!

(Translated by Google) The beautiful collection of modern art stands out. The archaeological part and the spice room are also modest. (Original) Spicca la Bellissima collezione di arte moderna. Modesta anche la parte archeologica e la sala delle spezie.

(Translated by Google) This former monastery has been transformed into a museum detailing the history of medieval medicine. The objects on display are fascinating and offer a unique insight into life at the time. (Original) Aquest antic monestir ha estat transformat en un museu que detalla la història de la medicina medieval. Els objectes exposats són fascinants i ofereixen una visió única de la vida a l’època.

(Translated by Google) We dug up an Etruscan figurine near Giacometti and you can come for it, it’s really interesting (Original) Откопали одну этрусскую статуэтку под Джакометти и из-за неё можно прийти, реально интересная

(Translated by Google) An impeccably organized museum. (Original) Un museo impecablemente organizado.

(Translated by Google) A pleasant and calming walk (Original) Une promenade agréable et apaisante

Beautiful place.

Wonderful tower in a pittoresque tuscan village.

Really cool! Loved the views!

Definitely worth visiting!

Amazing sights

Nice tower

Ok

Wonderful lunch to have if you are stopping by in San Gimignano. Exceptional views, and great customer service from all of the team.. extremely efficient and fast and the quality. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the suckling pig, which combined with their house Chianti made the perfect combination. Highly recommend visiting this wonderful restaurant. It was recommended to us by Tour Guide, and I can happily recommend it to you.

We arrived spontaneously without a reservation but were warmly welcomed. Although we were first seated at a nice table for two, the staff kindly moved us to a front-row window table with a stunning view after just ten minutes. Despite the restaurant being crowded, the service was excellent and remarkably efficient. The food was delicious, and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. It was a wonderful start to our day, and we would highly recommend this restaurant. We will definitely be back!

Start by saying I highly suggest you book a reservation if you want to eat any time before 8:45pm! We didn’t but got lucky that a table opened up as we walked in but 4 parties behind us were turned away! Food was so good I’m still dreaming about it. I had the best pistachio ravioli I’ve ever had and would fly back tomorrow just for this meal! Staff was great too we ran into our waiter the next morning and he remembered us, chatted with us and made us feel like locals!

Such a wonderful place to have a lunch with a fabulous view of the Tuscan valley. Our meals were wonderful. The service was excellent. I definitely recommend reservations.

Amazing view while getting great food. We got pistachio sauce pasta that was creamy and deep taste. Pasta was fresh and handmade.

We had a great lunch in a beautiful place with a nice view of the Tuscan countryside. The service was very good. The prices were fair. I really recommend this place!"

Perhaps the best restaurant in San Giminiano. Real tasty Tuscan food and great wine list. Excellent service from well informed staff. Most recommended.

Beautiful!

Nice plaza to relax and enjoy the surrounding architecture.

(Translated by Google) Unmissable (Original) Imperdibile

(Translated by Google) Beautiful! But unlike in 2015, when I came for the same date, tourism increased by 1,000 times. (Original) Hermoso! Pero a diderencia del 2015 que vine para la misma fecha, el turismo se multiplico por 1000

(Translated by Google) A beautiful spot. Ideal for eating ice cream in the shade or simply taking a break. (Original) Ein schöner Platz. Ideal auch um im Schatten Eis zu essen oder einfach einmal eine Pause zu machen.

(Translated by Google) When we visited there was a man dressed in period costume (a clergyman) and the truth is that the prayers of the performance were a bit overwhelming. (Original) Cuando la visitamos había un señor vestido de época (clérigo) y la verdad es que los rezos de la "perfomance" te sonbrecogian un poco.

(Translated by Google) Small but with a pleasant effect (Original) Piccola ma di gradevole effetto

(Translated by Google) I was here on April 5, 2025, and the visit was terrible. The church of San Lorenzo in Ponte consists of two rooms with large frescoes on the walls. Upon entry, you'll be given a card explaining each fresco. Inside, there was an absurd smell and a lot of dust. It should be better enhanced. The staff is uninterested and rude. There are no restrooms. (Original) Sono stato qui il 5/4/2025 e la visita è stata pessima. La chiesa di San Lorenzo in ponte è composta da due stanze con grandi affreschi sui muri. Vi verrà fornito all’entrata un cartoncino che spiega ogni affresco. All’interno c’era una puzza assurda e molta polvere. Andrebbe valorizzato in modo più adeguato. Il personale è svogliato e maleducato. Non sono presenti bagni

(Translated by Google) Interesting frescoes (Original) Affreschi interessanti