San Gimignano artistic itineraries

  • A journey from the Fortress of Montestaffoli at the door of the Springs
  • Route B from door to door san san Matteo Jacopo

    A journey from the Fortress of Montestaffoli at the door of the Springs

    Rock of Montestaffoli
     This route starts from the most panoramic of San Gimignano: the fortress. Erected by the Florentines in 1351 Montestaffoli of the hill, overlooking the ancient village. Although the fortress ruins remain very few, since the climb up here deserves for the spectacular view that is open to visitors. From the top of the towers it is possible appreciate "the Manhattan of the Middle Ages", as has been nicknamed San Gimignano for its numerous towers. Be seduced by the charm of this center and be prepared to immerse yourself in its squares, its streets, which many times are set to become famous Italian and foreign films .

    Going along Via della Rocca you reach the small piazza delle Erbe, where the two towers rising Salvucci, belonging to the family of Ghibelline Ardinghelli. Their construction takes us back to those times where the richest and most powerful noble families raising rival towers ever higher. In this constant race involved the enactment of a statute that expressly forbids municipal raising towers that were higher than that of the Podest? (Big Tower). To circumvent this provision Ardinghelli built the two towers of equal height that were superimposed over all others.

    Crossing the square we arrive at the place where you raise the symbols of secular and religious power: piazza del Duomo.

    Palazzo Comunale
     Built from the end of the thirteenth century, this building was the residence of the Podest? and currently is the town hall and the municipal museum in which are housed many works of Florentine and Sienese schools ranging from the thirteenth century to the sixteenth century. We recall the most important: the Crucifix by Coppo di Marcovaldo, Florentine painter of the Sienese fell prisoner during the Battle of Monteaperti, the majesty of Lippo Memmi, where the remarkable influence of the brother-in-law Simone Martini, and some very nice tables Pinturicchio and Filippino Lippi. Among the paintings is important artistic and religious identity of the Holy Fina table on which the couple remained motionless for five years until his death.

    Leaving the gallery, one enters the room of the Podest?, the walls of Memmo Filippucci has depicted scenes amateurs intimate life ranging from courtship all'epilogo wedding. What better refutation of these glimpses "os?" for those who regard the Middle Ages, a dark period.

    You can then go up the tower Coarse with its 54 meters is the highest of which make beautiful towers in the distance the unmistakable profile of this village. From its summit you can enjoy a wonderful view ranging from Valdelsa up to the Apuan Alps and the mountains of Pistoia.

    Duomo
     Also known as church Collegiata, the cathedral was consecrated in 1148 and enlarged in 1460 by Giuliano da Maiano. From the top of a staircase stands the building that appears outside the examination quasiasi of decorum while inside was richly frescoed, through the centuries by the great interpreters of the Florentine and Sienese painting. Stand out as the Last Judgment of Taddeo di Bartolo, the Stories of St. Fina of Ghirlandaio, the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian Benozzo Gozzoli, the wooden Annunciation by Jacopo della Quercia and an altar of Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano. These are some of the treasures that make the cathedral a "museum" of great value.

    To the left of the Collegiate accessed through the arch of St. John in square Pecori where it shows the beautiful palace of Propositura, elegant building thirteenth century.

    Palazzo della Propositura
     Situated between the cathedral and the palace Comunale, preserves important works of the most prestigious are the Annunciation loggia decorated with tiles and bas-reliefs and the beautiful frescoes by Ghirlandaio in the oratory. Seat of Chapterhouse and Opera contains quattrocentine, scrolls and papal bulls.

    The porch is set up the local Etruscan Museum where it was placed on material found in the area.

    Other building artistic interest in this square is the Museum of Sacred Art where works are exhibited from churches and convents deleted. Along with paintings and other paintings include silverware, choral and liturgical vestments.

    Crossing Piazza del Duomo you reach Piazza della Cisterna. Already called for the many taverns inns that you were in, owes its name to the general well designed for public use that stands in the middle. On this space, which formerly held business, you face the typical buildings of the thirteenth century and fourteenth century that create a sort of barrier which emerge from the towers of Cortesi and those of Ardinghelli.

    It continues because of the Castle, one of the most elegant and features of San Gimignano, with beautiful buildings including the church of San Lorenzo in Ponte. At the end of the road will take away Santo Stefano to the door of the sources that opens the campaign and public sources leads to a time where you washed clothes.

    Route B from Porta San Matteo at Porta San Jacopo

    As thousands of pilgrims have done in the past, cross Porta San Matteo, an ancient northern gate of the street Francigena.

    Church of St. Augustine
    Dating back to 1298, this building in the Romanesque-Gothic style has a single, wide nave lighted by four large single-Gothic style, the walls were a time to be adorned with paintings of which many today emerge only a few remain, having been covered with a painting to prevent the spread of epidemics. Despite this loss, the church houses numerous works of art of inestimable importance, including a place of honor it is for the fresco cycle in the choir and formed by 17 stories of St. Augustine by Benozzo Gozzoli painted with exquisite narrative style. A curiosity worth noting is the presence of 'the self painter in the fourth character in the left pane in the right lower zone. Deserves attention to see the chapel of San Bartolo performed by Benedetto da Maiano.

    From the sacristy you access to the beautiful cloister fifteenth, where the center is an octagonal well.

    Going via the Romite you can see the former Conservatory of Santa Chiara with its adjacent church where there is a painting by Matteo Rosselli.

    Ex Conservatorio di Santa Chiara
     Today it houses a major exhibition which includes the Archaeological Museum, the Santa Fina Spezieria and the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art "Raffaele De Grada.

    Archaeological Museum
    Here are collected the remains of Etruscan and Roman times and medieval found in the surrounding area for us to retrace the steps of the main story San Gimignano.

    Spezieria di Santa Fina
    Beginning in the sixteenth century, some premises were used as Spezieria, destined to grow and, for a while ', to remain open to the public.
    Today you can see the collection of pharmacy comprising mostly vases in ceramic and glass containers with medicines, furnishings and furniture, belonging to a very wide ranging from the nineteenth Quattrocento. The exhibition takes place in a corridor and two rooms, one of which reproduces the century pharmacy and the other proposes the reconstruction of the laboratory.

    Taking this point by Folgore da San Gimignano is found on the right 's Hospital of Santa Fina. Founded after the death of the patron saint of San Gimignano, the hospital soon increased its assets by tender.

    Adjacent to the hospital there is the church of San Jerome, a building with one nave, of the seventeenth century.

    We thus arrive at Porta San Jacopo, opened in the walls, next to the homonymous small church, whose construction was ordered in the thirteenth century by Termplari.