City of San Gimignano

The antiquity of San Gimignano is apparent from your approach to the city. The high turrets, tall towers, and massiveness of the wall of the city is pretty awe inspiring. It is what is referred to here as a hill city. That usually means the city sits on hill, has an impressive wall of fortification and has winding, narrow often steep streets. The towers which are one of the cities most obvious architectural traits were usually each of a different family unit living within the walls. They were built for protection and privacy of the families from outside attackers who managed to get within the walls and sometimes from rival families within.
Some of the structures have survived for over a thousand years. At one time over thirteen thousand people thrived within the walls of San Gimignano, but a brutal plaque decimated the population in (if I remember right) the 1300s and reduced the number to around four thousand. It had been a trade center, but fell under the rule of Florence who added injury to injury by moving the trade route away.
It is very interesting to see, but we thought some of the historical and cultural interests had been blurred by commercialism for tourists.
The "man" on the top of the tower on the pic is a statue. There is a story behind the rendition and you may turn a corner and run into him.



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