San Gimignano Hotels

It gets called 'la Citta dalle belle Torri', the town of the beautiful towers, and the name could scarcely be more appropriate for San Gimignano. It may be over 2000 years in making, but this incredible Tuscan town has changed little since its golden period of the 12th century, when local merchants grew rich on the trade of Tuscan saffron, their wealth displayed for all to see in the towers which have made the town so famous. Visiting San Gimignano is a step back in time to a period when art, culture and architecture changed the world, and Tuscany was the epicentre of this revolution. San Gimignano hotels offer something special therefore; the opportunity to experience that magic, and to do it at leisure.

There were originally 72 towers ordered to be built, of which only 15 remain completely intact. For those who can only imagine what it must have looked like with them all, then imagine no more but simply head for San Gimignano 1300, a museum in the heart of the town which contains a full hand crafted reproduction of what it looked liked 700 years ago. The exhibition took 3 years for historians, architects and artists to create and is an essential component of any tour. There is more than enough delights of the old walled medieval hill town as it stands however, with a more complete record of the period than anywhere else in Italy, and with San Gimignano hotels perfectly placed to enjoy it.

Tuscany is of course home to some of the greatest visitor destinations in the world, including Florence and Siena and many tourists will stay in cities such as these, incorporating San Gimignano only as part of a tour. It is estimated that some 3 million visitors a year come to see the town and its towers and so it can get very busy, especially during the afternoons. These tourists have it the wrong way round. Stay in San Gimignano and enjoy the great beauty, the incredible architecture and the rich cultural elements, and do so in the early mornings, the evenings or any time it suits and then use San Gimignano hotels as a base for the wider delights of Tuscany.

There is another good reason for taking more time to explore the town, there is just so much to see and take in. The main churches are Collegiata and Sant'Agostino, both of which are filled with wonderful frescoes by great renaissance artists. The Communal Palace has many further works of art on display but in essence the art is the town itself and its streets and buildings which have delights and surprises at every turn. The main streets are Via San Giovanni and Via San Matteo and there are four squares, the Piazza Duomo, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza Pecori, and Piazza Della Cisterna, the center of town and medieval water source, hence the name. Further details will be available within most San Gimignano hotels.

When the tourists come into the city in the afternoons it is time to get out and explore the surrounding towns, each one more impressive than the last. Take the cable railway from the newer part of San Gimignano to Celtado, or head for the Cecina Valley and the majesty of Volterra, where Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art come together. Visit the town of Colle di val d'Esla, famed for its precious crystals, and then take in the huge fortress walls of Monteriggioni, perhaps take a chianti wine tour or simply take in the wonderful natural landscape of Sienna and Tuscany. This is what San Gimignano hotels provide, opportunities and great Tuscan experiences.

What they also provide is some superb hospitality. Unsurprisingly there are few accommodation options in the heart of old town itself but plenty within easy walking distance of it. The range of San Gimignano hotels is impressive, from luxury options with pools, spas and other fabulous ways in which to kick back and relax to small independent hotels and guest houses with no pool but an abundance of charm. The choice will depend on any specific requirements and while those with families may prefer a raft of facilities on site, for many people the hotel will simply be a way of getting close to the attractions of the town and will offer enough comforts and style to do just that.

Another option is a rural locale outwith the town but close enough to visit at any time. This is possible via countryside resort hotels which are very special indeed and will combine superb facilities for dining, for leisure and for recreation with organized tours, events and excursions. It is also possible with Agriturismo hotels. These are popular throughout Italy and especially so in such outstanding landscapes as those found in Tuscany. Formed from old farm buildings they add something special to any stay, namely that rustic character and timeless style for which the area is so renowned. Some will be working farms too, making them great places for families looking for something different but no less memorable.

There is a classic dichotomy with beautiful unspoiled places, they become ever more popular and ever more spoiled as a result. San Gimignano is not there yet, but it is close, and really the best way get the town as it should be is to go off the tourist trail. San Gimignano hotels make this possible and that is perhaps their greatest appeal.

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