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Suggested
Itinerary:
2
nights accommodations in room or appartment with
Breakfast
daily
Full
day tour of Florence - Siena
A
tour of the wine cellar with tasting
options
Tuscan
cooking classes held twice each week (additional charge)
Many
options available from Ulignano, San Gimignano such as
horse back riding, mountain biking,day trekking, etc.
(additional charge)
San
Gimignano
Situated in the heart
of the TUSCANY, lies the MEDIAEVAL TOWN OF SAN
GIMIGNANO, located between SIENA, FLORENCE and
VOLTERRA, three of the most famous cities heavily
influenced in culture and traditions from an historic
age.
Base of a small Etruscan village dating from the
Hellenistic period, its history started around the 10th
century on a hill 334 meters above sea level surrounded
by a beautifull landscape, dominating the River Elsa
Valley.
San Gimignano is a City of UNCOMMON BEAUTY, with its
proud towers, shining in the sky like a star, surrounded
by green hills, this historic village offers a exquisite
cultural experience to its visitors...
"The Town of the fine
Towers",
as it has been called, well deserves this name becouse
it appears in allit's splendour as it comes into view in
the distance with its TALL TOWERS rearing toowards the
heavens.
SAN GIMIGNANO, enclosed by two walls running around the
town is a cultural haven with its' architectural beauty,
the narrow street, the fountains and the castle itself
dating back to the XII century.
One could easily be transported back in time would the
people of San Gimignano adorn their medieval costumers
when watching them practice their traditional rituals.
This is SAN GIMIGNANO: this is its beauty and charm.
Standing there adorned in the medieval colour, the
patina which reflects the traditions; times gone by
which renders the visitors this unique experience of
having gone back in time.
It is really all of this together, simple yet fable like
at the same time, which has made SAN GIMIGNANO a
small but precious jewel of Tuscany.
The town of San
Gimignano, takes its name from the Holy Bishop of
Modena, GIMIGNANO, who saved the City from the
barbarians.
The City had an important demographic and trade
development due to its excellent geographic position.
From San Gimignano the Francigena Road connected
Rome to the rest of Europe.
During the years 1000, 1200 and 1300, San Gimignano had
an important economic, cultural and trade development.
The merchants sold the fruits of the soil, the local
handcraft products derived from wool, woven garments,
saffron and wine, VERNACCIA and olive-oil.
There were intensive cultural and trade contacts with
many a kin. The pilgrims and merchants of european
cities,with students (clerici vagantes), with the
preachers and bishops, with princes, stone and timber
merchants, with painters and with artists.
In this "golden period" San Gimignano had an
important artistic development and the work of arts
flourished (from the Siena ghotic art to the Florence
Renaissance) decorated churchs and convents.
The richest families of the City showed off their wealth
and their power constructing heigh towers. These towers
untile this day differentate San Gimignano from other
medieval town and present a spectacle for the tourists.
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