San Gimignano

Infobox CityIT

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img_coa = San Gimignano-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di San Gimignano
region = Tuscany
province = Siena (SI)
elevation_m = 324
area_total_km2 = 138
population_as_of = December 31, 2005
population_total = 7105
name=San Gimignano
mapx=43.5
mapy=11.06
population_density_km2 = 51
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|43|28|N|11|03|E
frazioni =
telephone = 0577
postalcode = 53037
gentilic = Sangimignanesi
saint = St. Geminianus
day = January 31
mayor = Marco Lisi (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.sangimignano.si.it www.comune.sangimignano.si.it] Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Historic Centre of San Gimignano


State Party = ITA
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, iii, iv
ID = 550
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1990
Session = 14th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/550 San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometers outside the town.

The town also is known for the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, grown in the area.

History

San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century, when it adopted the name of the bishop Saint Geminianus, who had defended it from Attila's Huns.

In the Middle Ages and Renaissance era, it was a stopping point for Catholic pilgrims on their way to Rome and the Vatican, as it sits on the medieval Via Francigena. The city's development also was improved by the trade of agricultural products from the fertile neighbouring hills.

In 1199, during the period of its highest splendour, the city made itself independent from the bishops of Volterra. Divisions between Guelphs and Ghibellines troubled the inner life of the commune, which nonetheless, still managed to embellish itself with artworks and architectures.

Saint Fina, known also as Seraphina and Serafina, was a thirteenth century Italian saint born in San Gimignano during 1238. Since Saint Fina died on March 12, 1253 her feast day became March 12. Her major shrine is in San Gimignano and the house said to be her home still stands in the town.

On May 8, 1300, San Gimignano hosted Dante Alighieri in his role of ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany.

The city flourished until 1348, when the plague that affected all of Europe, compelled it to submit to Florence. San Gimignano became a secondary centre until the nineteenth century, when its status as a touristic and artistic resort began to be recognized.

Main sights

While in other cities, such as Bologna or Florence, most or all of their towers have been brought down due to wars, catastrophes, or urban renewal, San Gimignano has managed to conserve fourteen towers of varying height which have become its international symbol.

There are many churches in the town: the two main ones are the "Collegiata", formerly a cathedral, and "Sant'Agostino", housing a wide representation of artworks from some of the main Italian renaissance artists.

The Communal Palace, once seat of the podestà, is currently home of the Town Gallery, with works by Pinturicchio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Filippino Lippi, Domenico di Michelino, Pier Francesco Fiorentino, and others. From Dante's Hall in the palace, access may be made to a "Majesty" fresco by Lippo Memmi, as well as the "Torre del Podestà" or "Torre Grossa", 1311, which stands fifty-four meters high.

The heart of the town contains the four squares, Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza Duomo where the Collegiata is located, Piazza Pecori, and Piazza delle Erbe. The main streets are Via San Matteo and Via San Giovanni, which cross the city from north to south.

Culture

San Gimignano is the birthplace of the poet Folgore da San Gimignano (1270-1332).

A fictionalised version of San Gimignano is featured in E.M. Forster's 1905 novel, "Where Angels Fear to Tread" as Monteriano.

It is thought that the towers are the inspiration for the design of the campus of the University of Essex and of the residential colleges of Ezra Stiles and Morse at Yale University.

M. C. Escher's 1923 woodcut, "San Gimignano", [http://www.mcescher.com] depicts the celebrated towers.

"Tea with Mussolini", a 1999 drama about the plight of English and American expatriate women in Italy during World War II, was filmed in part at San Gimignano. The frescoes that the women save are inside the Duomo, the town's main church.

In the fictional novel "The Broker" by John Grisham, Joel Backman takes his second of three wives on vacation in Italy to keep her from divorcing him. They rent a fourteenth-century monastery near San Gimignano for a month.

Gallery

External links

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* [http://www.sangimignano.net San Gimignano - The town of the beautiful towers]
* [http://www.borghiditoscana.net/eng/tuscany/siena/sangimignano/index.html A Walk in San Gimignano]
* [http://www.360tuscany.net/?area=Gimignano&mapArea=Gimignano 360° Photo Tour & Information on San Gimignano]
* [http://www.pallero.com/extras/san-gimignano.aspx History and tourist information on San Gimignano]
* [http://www.san-gimignano.com San Gimignano]
* [http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=286&ref_genre=&ref_item=400 Video Introduction to San Gimignano]