San Gimignano rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the site of a small Etruscan village from the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century, taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased its wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena", the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. Such prosperity led to the flourishing of works of art that adorn the churches and monasteries. In 1199 it became a free municipality and fought against the Bishops of Volterra and the surrounding municipalities. Due to internal power struggles it eventually divided into two factions, one headed by the Ardinghelli family (Guelphs) and the other by the Salvucci family (Ghibellines). On the 8th May 1300, Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the Ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany. In 1348 San Gimignano's population was drastically reduced by the Black Death Plague which threw the city into a serious crisis that eventually led to its submission to Florence in 1353. In the following centuries San Gimignano overcame its decline and isolation when its beauty and cultural importance, together with its agricultural heritage, were rediscovered. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries. The architecture of the city was influenced by Pisa, Siena and Florence. There are 14th century paintings of the Sienese School to be seen along with 15th century paintings of the Florentine School.

RATES:

280 Euros
for 1 to 3 Guests including a deluxe car at your disposal for 8 hrs with an English-speaking driver
    Wine tasting at Castello di Paneretta, 3 kinds of wines starting from 25 Euros per Guest, to be paid directly
         Light lunch at Castello di Paneretta, including 2 main courses with wine, water and vin santo, starting from 45 Euros per Guest, to be paid directly
    Wine tasting at Castello di Monsanto starting from 18 Euros per Guest, to be paid directly
         Visit and wine tasting in Sovestro in Poggio starting from 9 Euros per Guest, to be paid directly
        Light lunch in Sovestro in Poggio, including 2 main courses, starting from 24 Euros per Guest, to be paid directly
Visit and wine tasting at Villa Cusona Guicciardini Strozzi starting from  15 Euros per Guest, to be paid directly