San Gimignano

As the Uffici was closed today, Monday, I took an early bus to the medieval walled hill town of San Gimignano. The two most important sights here are the Collegiata, San Gimignano's Romanesque Cathedral, and the Palazzo Communale. The name, Collegiata, comes from the College of priests and monks, who originally cared for and administered it. The outer façade is rather plain, but inside one is struck with a blaze of vivid frescoes covering the ceiling and all the walls. These wonderful frescoes depict scenes from both the Old and New Testaments. Next to the main altar is a very beautiful Renaissance chapel dedicated to Saint Fina, the town's angelic patron saint. The 12th century Palazzo Communale was the former centre of local government and houses not only remarkable frescoes but some superb paintings in classical style from the Sienese and Florentine schools dating from  the 12th to the 15th centuries. The Palazzo also has an extremely high tower accessed by a seemingly never ending heart racing spiral tower, the Torre Grossa, which gives spectacular views of San Gimignano and its multitude of minor towers as well as an endless panorama of the surrounding verdant î Toscana countryside. I spent another couple of hours exploring the town's cobbled alleyways and finished up with the Passigiata alla Mura, a stroll around the fabled outer walll of this historic commune. San Gimignano is noted for its elegant white wine, Vernaccia, and I sampled  a couple of glasses along with a selection of local cheeses at an enoteca or bar, It was just bursting with flowery bouquet and flavour! More on Firenze in my next post.