San Gimignano is a small village in Tuscany, originally called “City of Silva”: it later took its name from the Bishop of Modena, who liberated the town from a barbarian invasion. An independent republic in the Middle Ages, San Gimignano was dominated by two powerful, continually feuding families and in 1352 the city was under Florence control. San Gimignano is rich in Gothic architecture and is one of the best-preserved Italian medieval towns, with city walls, gates, and 14 of its famous old towers remaining intact. These towers, characteristic of San Gimignano, once numbered 72; they were built by leading families vying with each other for prestige. The historic town centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990. San Gimignano is an important tourist centre and is known also for its wines.
San Gimignano
