Surroundings
San Galgano - Siena - Province - Seaside - Florence
Province
San Gimignano
San Gimignano, one of the most unique Tuscan towns, thanks to its severely Medieval aspect (bristling with towers and protected by its perfectly intact fortifications). Most prosperous during the 12th and 13th centuries, when it enjoyed the status of Free Commune (frequently at war with Volterra and devoured by internecine strife), it finally surrendered to Florence in 1354.
The most typical product of its carefully tended slopes is an excellent white wine, known as Vernaccia, one of the best in Tuscany.
Monteriggioni suddenly appears to ones left, at the top of a hill, when one is driving northwards along the Florence superstrada from Siena. A typical medieval burg, completely surrounded by its turreted walls, built in the 13th century, enjoying a highly visible position atop its strategically placed hill. The walls, with their fourteen square turrets, were mentioned by Dante in his Inferno.
