San Gimignano Landmarks and Monuments

(San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy)

The richest Tuscan families who once lived in San Gimignano enjoyed flaunting their tremendous wealth and so built many of the town's most famous towers and other landmarks. Originally, the town was home to more than 70 different towers in total, although today, just 14 of these landmarks remain still standing, adding much character to the skyline and earning San Gimignano a mention on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

A number of other very significant monuments are scattered around the town and its ancient surrounding walls, with the most notable landmarks including the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino, the Palazzo Communale and the Porta San Giovanni gateway. Located in the very heart of San Gimignano and presiding over the Piazza del Duomo, the Collegiata is the town's cathedral and of course also more than deserves a mention.

Towers / Torre Grossa (Big Tower / Great Tower)

Address: Via San Giovanni, San Gimignano, Italy, IT
Famous for its beautiful medieval town walls and gateways, San Gimignano is also known throughout Tuscany for its tall towers. No less than seven of the town's remaining towers stand around the Piazza del Duomo, the tallest being the Torre Grossa, which measures almost 55 metres / 180 feet. The Torre Grossa was built at the very end of the 13th century and although the climb to the top may be tiring for some, the views more than make up for any effort. Another tower of note is the Torre della Rognosa, which is part of the Palazzo del Podesta, a grand building and the first town hall.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Cathedral (Collegiata)

Address: Piazza del Duomo, San Gimignano, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 0577 940 316
One of the town's leading landmarks, the San Gimignano Cathedral dominates the western side of the central Piazza del Duomo, where it also goes by the name of the Collegiata. The cathedral stands at the top of a rather grand staircase, where it remains the town's main church. Outside, the architecture appears quite understated, with two doorways and three circular windows. However, when you step inside you will likely be at least a little overwhelmed at the quantity and quality of the numerous 14th-century frescoes, which often tell a story, resembling nothing short of a comic book from medieval times.
Open hours: April to October, Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 19:30, Saturday - 09:30 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:30 to 17:00; November to mid-January and March, Monday to Saturday - 09:30 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Chiesa di Sant'Agostino

Address: Piazza Sant'Agostino, San Gimignano, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 0577 907 012
The Chiesa di Sant'Agostino can be found on the northern side of San Gimignano and on the Piazza Sant'Agostino, where it has been an important local landmark since is first opened its doors in the 13th century. The town's second-biggest church after the Collegiata, the simple brick exterior appears quite plain and the bell tower is very subtle. The interior is surprisingly elaborate, with a series of beautiful, colourful frescos covering many of the walls. Within the apse, the fresco painting by Italian Renaissance painter Benozzo Gozzoli (1421 - 1497) is the main attraction and quite awesome. Also of note, the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino is home to a small chapel, which contains the tower of St. Bartolo.
Open hours: daily, April to October - 07:00 to 12:00, 15:00 to 19:00; November to March - 07:00 to 12:00, 15:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Town Hall (People's Palace / Palazzo Communale)

Address: Piazza del Duomo, San Gimignano, Italy, IT
Tel: +39 0577 990 312
Founded during the 13th century, the Palazzo Communale of today serves as the Town Hall and stands on the Piazza del Duomo, alongside the Collegiata. A major landmark with an orange-brick facade, the Palazzo Communale is home to a number of quality attractions, namely the Museo Civico, the Pinacoteca and the Torre Grossa, the latter of which is extremely hard to miss. The front of the People's Palace is rather a mishmash of different architectural styles and structures, with two large archways on the left-hand side and the impression of ramparts at the top, making the building appear more like a small fortress than an actual Town Hall.
Open hours: daily, March to October - 09:30 to 19:00; November to February - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Gate of San Giovanni (Porta San Giovanni)

Address: Via San Giovanni, San Gimignano, Italy, IT
The Gate of San Giovanni is known as the Porta San Giovanni in San Gimignano and is of great historical significance, being an integral part of the ancient 13th-century walls, which have surrounded the town for so many years. Although there are a number of different gateways, which allow access through the walls, the Porta San Giovanni has always been the most imposing of these landmarks and is around 750 years old. Tourists regularly come to the gateway to have their photograph taken next to this fine medieval architecture.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free