charming tuscany villas - Residences in San Gimignano, Italy

SAN GIMIGNANO: MEMORIES OF MEDIEVAL ITALY
What do the historic centres of Florence and San Gimignano have in common? Answer: both have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other than that, of course, the two cities – well, city and town, really – also have in common some wonderful architecture, and a rich cultural tradition. As it stands today, San Gimignano is a small, walled, medieval town on a hilltop in Tuscany, about 35 minutes northwest of Siena and southwest of Florence. Famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, San Gimignano is also known for its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

San Gimignano started life as a small Etruscan village in the third century BC. It took its present name in the 10th century AD, after the bishop Saint Geminianus, who defended it from Attila’s rampaging Huns. In medieval and Renaissance times, it was a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Rome and the Vatican. The town also began trading in agricultural products from the neighbouring hills.

In 1300, San Gimignano welcomed Dante Alighieri as ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany. All went well until 1348, when the Black Death (Europe’s notorious plague epidemic) forced the town to surrender to Florence. Of secondary importance until the 19th century, San Gimignano’s popularity began growing from this time, as its status as a tourist attraction began to be recognised.

Today, San Gimignano is famed for its 13 towers, of varying heights, which the nobility had built in medieval times. In medieval Italy, these towers would serve as lodgings, fortresses, and prestige symbols. While in other Italian cities such as Bologna or Florence, most of the towers have been ruined by wars, catastrophes, and urban development, San Gimignano’s 13 towers have become its international symbol.

San Gimignano is also home to many churches, the two main ones being the Collegiata, formerly a cathedral, and Sant’Agostino, which houses works by famous Italian Renaissance artists. The Communal Palace, currently home of the Town Gallery, has works by Pinturicchio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Filippino Lippi, Domenico di Michelino, Pier Francesco Fiorentino, and others. At the heart of the town are four squares, Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza Duomo, Piazza Pecori, and Piazza delle Erbe. The main streets of the old town centre are Via San Matteo and Via San Giovanni, which cross the city from north to south.

Accommodation in San Gimignano ranges from carefully renovated farmhouses to high-quality hotels, taking in bed & breakfasts, apartments, and town house suites on the way. All of these facilities are on offer for you, as you will realise once you go through our comprehensive selection. We have taken every care to ensure that your stay in San Gimignano is comfortable, safe, and memorable.

RESIDENCES IN TUSCANY: YOUR OWN PRIVATE PARADISE

Okay, how does this sound: 10 elegant apartments offering a luxurious, timeless taste of Tuscan country life. Pretty gardens, a large swimming pool and delightful views of the ancient city of Cortona... Residence Il Casale offers guests a rare opportunity to sample the lifestyle and opulence of the Renaissance nobility in eastern Tuscany. This is a marvellously well-preserved 16th century structure that looks out towards the towers and churches that pierce the Cortona skyline. The 10 vacation apartments are dominated by the original building with its stone tower, wide balcony and external staircase.

You think we’re rambling? Well, not really, because we offer you the choicest Tuscany vacation residences for your sojourn to one of the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations, and we assure you that the description in the last paragraph is only a sampler of the kind of Tuscany residences that we can offer you. All you need to do is visit us and go through our list of the best residences in Tuscany, any of which can be your vacation home. We enable you to speak to the owners of these beautiful properties direct, and you can make your own arrangements thereafter. All we do is act as facilitators, and once you experience our services, you will agree that approaching us for help is a good way to begin your trip to Tuscany.

And in case you thought we were limited to a single region of Tuscany, here’s one more sampler: Located in Venturina Terme (Campiglia Marittima) province of Livorno, the Residence Le Corti Del Sole is the perfect location to enjoy your holiday and devote your time to the various thermal springs in and around the area. Near the Residence are the Costa Degli Etruschi, Elba Isle, and within easy reach lie important cities like Pisa, Siena and Florence. It’s also an ideal starting point to visit the lovely cities of Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, Suvereto and Campiglia.

As is obvious, then, we can offer you residences in all parts of Tuscany, and would invite you to visit us without further ado. Without exception, the residences that we have chosen for you are perfectly located to offer tourists every modern facility, as well as allow them to soak in the delightful ambience of old world Tuscany. Still not convinced? Maybe you should just check us out then.

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