Day Trip to San Gimignano

We arrived in San Gimignano around noon just as all the parking lot electronic signs started to display “Completo” meaning the full leaving us no option but to park at the only remaining parking lot available to visitors which is located at the very bottom of the medieval hilly town. As with many towns and cities in Tuscany, visitors are not able to drive into the central parts. These areas are usually limited to residents with special parking permits.

Having driven in circles a number of times in search of parking, we caught glimpses of the beautiful stone and brick buildings perfectly distanced from one another, but it was only when we started to walk from the parking lot and ascend the hill to the were we really able to take in the sheer magnitude of the beauty of the alabaster and apricot-toned buildings against the gorgeous green countryside and sparkling blue sky. At times it felt like we were looking at paintings and when we took some of our selfies it looked as if we superimposed ourselves onto a fake background. The pictures really don’t do justice to what the eyes are able to take in in person.

San Gimignano is often referred to as the Manhattan skyline of Tuscany because it has tall buildings that can be seen for miles and miles unlike the rest of Tuscany where houses and buildings are comprised of one to two stories. But before you go rushing to see Empire State Building level monuments, hold on….these buildings are only 10-15 stories at most. Compared to the one to two level buildings, they might seem enormous to some, but not everyone will it that way. But, because of all the hills and mountains and the countless houses fitted nicely into the small crevices of each of these landforms, the area is anything but flat and quite scenic leaving little need for tall buildings which also gives way to plenty of viewing of greenery and blue sky.

The day we visited was a beautiful day, sunny and breezy with temps in the mid 70’s. Plus with it being June, tourists, many part of the ever annoying travel groups, can be found in every nook and cranny of Tuscany – and here too the gorgeous old town was just a sea of tourists many waiting in line for some tasty gelato. The more popular places like San Gimignano, Florence etc. are flooded with American tourists talking loudly on their cell phones in English as they sit in restaurants or walk down streets. Most annoying of all has been their assumption that everyone speaks English so they dive into conversation with Florentine purveyors or Tuscan business owners by saying “hi, I want…. Instead of the more considerate buongiorno in the morning, or buonasera in the evening… mi scusi, parla inglese…excuse me do you speak English.

There are plenty of places within the old walled town to grab a bite whether literally getting a slice and continuing with your walking and exploring or sitting down and enjoying some vino with your antipasti or primi. Besides the historical richness and the eating, you can also do some great shopping. Two long wide pedestrians walkways are lined with dozens of shops on either side making for an overwhelming and possibly costly experience.

Many shops offer the usual touristy tchotchkes, but you can also find some items Tuscany, and Italy all over, is better known for like olive oil, olives, wine, murano glass etc. I didn’t pay particular attention to these things thinking they were overpriced and better ones could probably be purchased elsewhere. Rather, I was more focused on shoes and purses and drawn to the rich buttery authentic smell of leather. I ended up purchasing a pair of sandals, not made in Italy, but rather in Spain, my third pair on this trip – they can also make great stuff – as well as an electric blue leather crossbody handbag that can double as a clutch. Coincidentally it matched the sandals I had just purchased and the top I was wearing that day. I guess you can say I like the color blue.