San Gimignano

San Gimignano, a Tuscan comune (municipality) in the province of Siena, is a hilltop town on the Val d’Elsa valley. The local economy, flourishing in industry and agriculture, obtains considerable resources from the flow of vacationers that come to this place to admire the wonderful medieval marvels. The city originally rose as an Etruscan settlement, as shown by numerous finds, while the constitution of the first urban centre dates back to around the VII century. Under the Episcopal power in the following years, San Gimignano succeeded in rebelling and getting the recognition as a free comune, though shortly afterwards it was made part of the Florentine rule. The inclusion of San Gimignano among the World Heritage Sites protected by UNESCO was due to the thirteen Towers of the city that still remain out of the original seventy-two that were built in the Middle Ages. Other artistic and architectural attractions, the most characteristic in Tuscany, are the Collegiata Church that exhibits paintings of the Florence and Siena Schools, the majestic Galleria Continua and its paintings of international fame, the striking Palazzo del Popolo, built in the XII century, and the historical Church of Sant Agostino. Finally, the extremely famous Medieval Criminal and Torture Museum and the particular Fiera dei Messi (historical re-evocation of medieval times with parades) are among the cultural places and popular local events most appreciated by tourists.