San Gimignano is known as the city of the hundred towers, a UNESCO World Heritage town where a cluster of tall stone towers still rises above the walls. The reason to go inside is the Collegiata, the collegiate church on Piazza Duomo, which is often called the Duomo. Fourteen stone columns carry a blue vault, and the walls are painted with Old Testament scenes by Bartolo di Fredi from 1367 on one side and a New Testament cycle from the Sienese school on the other. At the side stands the Renaissance chapel of Santa Fina, with frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio. Beyond the church, the town's civic museums include the Torre Grossa, the tallest tower, built in 1311. The streets between the two main squares are lined with food shops and wine bars.
Winter hours
From 1 November to 31 March the Collegiata opens Monday to Saturday from ten until five and on Sunday from half past twelve until five, with last admission thirty minutes before closing. The civic museums, with the Torre Grossa and the picture gallery, open from eleven until half past five in winter. Confirm the hours for your visit before travelling, since church hours can change for services.
Tickets
A combined ticket covers the Collegiata and the Museum of Sacred Art, and a pass covers the civic museums as well. Audio guides are available, and bookings carry a small charge. San Gimignano is a day trip by road from Siena, and Visit Tuscany suggests a car or bus. The old town is closed to most traffic, so park outside the walls and walk up through the gates, which takes about ten minutes.
Making the visit work
Go early or stay late if you can, as the town fills with day-trippers between late morning and mid-afternoon in season, and winter is far quieter. The Collegiata is best with an audio guide, because the frescoes are dense and the stories reward a slow look. Afterward, walk to the Torre Grossa for the view over the roofs and the hills, and buy a glass of the local white wine in one of the wine bars on Piazza della Cisterna.
What to expect
The experience
A walk through a walled hill town and a self-guided visit to the Collegiata church, with an audio guide and an optional pass for the civic museums and Torre Grossa.
Best time
Arrive early in the morning or stay into the late afternoon, when day-trip groups have gone.
How long
Allow three hours for the church and a wander, and up to five if you add the museums and the tower.
Tips
Confirm the church's opening hours before you go, park outside the walls, wear shoes for steep cobbles, and take a jacket for the wind on the tower.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want the classic Tuscan hill-town skyline and a church full of frescoes.
- Families
- Children enjoy the towers and the winding streets, and the Torre Grossa climb is a good reward for older ones.
- Couples
- Stay for a late lunch with a view over the valley and a glass of local white wine.
- Pair with
- Siena, the Chianti hills and the civic museums with the Torre Grossa.
- Time needed
- Half a day, or a full day with a long lunch.
Good questions
Is the Collegiata open in winter?+
Yes, in winter it opens from ten until five on Monday to Saturday and from half past twelve on Sunday. Hours can change for services, so check before you go.
What is the Collegiata?+
It is the main church of San Gimignano, often called the Duomo, on Piazza Duomo. It is known for its fourteenth-century frescoes and the Santa Fina chapel.
Who painted the frescoes?+
The Old Testament scenes are by Bartolo di Fredi, painted in 1367, and the New Testament cycle is by artists of the Sienese school. The Santa Fina chapel has frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio.
How do I get to San Gimignano from Siena?+
The town can be reached by car or by bus. Park outside the walls, because the historic centre is restricted to most traffic.
What is the Torre Grossa?+
It is the tallest tower in the town, built in 1311, and part of the civic museums in the town hall. It offers views over the roofs and the hills.
