Associazione Strutture ExtraAlberghiere di San Gimignano
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Other documents show that in 759 AD Desiderius II, the last king
of the Lombards, built his own house near the above castle (today
Palazzo–Torre Nomi Venerosi Pesciolini) and subsequently had the
second circle of city walls built, granting the municipality
extensive exemptions and privileges (as a reward for its
hospitality) but maintaining political supremacy.
The name San Gimignano appeared for the first time on 30th
August 929 AD in a document in which Ugo, King of Italy, donated
to Adelardo, Bishop of Volterra, a place called "Il Monte
della Torre" near San Gimignano. In 991 AD this place was
mentioned as Castello del Vescovo, the Bishop's Castle, (today
the former prison), and later became a Dominican monastery.
In 1099 San Gimignano began a series of bloody struggles with
Volterra in rebellion against the rule of the
"Bishop-Count" who at that time was the feudal lord of
various castles in the area. The resulting war lasted no less
than 30 years. Today's place names help us to identify where the
battles were fought: on the nearby hill Poggio del Cornocchio, at
the boundary between the two towns, a clearing in the wood is
still called "Campo alla Battaglia" (Battlefield).
In 1199 San Gimignano established itself as a free municipality
and remained so until 1354 when it came under Florentine rule.
The importance and wealth of this land were mainly due to the
Via Francigena or Via Romea, along which Charlemagne himself is
said to have passed. Via Francigena was the pilgrims' road that
"Led south to Rome and north to Santiago de
Compostela". Moreover it was crossed by various "salt
transport" roads and actually led to the port of Pisa where
the San Gimignano merchants had their import-export warehouses.
The most flourishing trade involved "vingreco" (a wine
made from muscatel grapes), saffron and Vernaccia. This last was
highly appreciated by Pope Martinus IV who claimed from the
municipality an appropriate number of "demijohns" of
the said nectar to "wash down" the eels fished in the
Lake of Bolsena.
In the 12th century, the period of greatest splendour, the
municipality offered hospitality to anyone who asked, especially
to political exiles from other cities. If they "behaved well
for at least five years" they were also given permission to
build their own house or palazzo and, in the case of the
richest, also storehouse-towers.
Daily life in those days was punctuated by the sound of bells:
the salt bell, the bank bell, the fire bell and the bread bell
which tolled when a deceased rich man, to save his soul in the
hereafter, had left money for the distribution of bread to the
poor people of the town. For tradition's sake the evening curfew
bell is still rung today – at 9 o'clock in winter, 10 o'clock in
summer – from the Torre Grossa of the Town Hall.
Moreover, every palazzo had a well or cistern to supply water
for family and animals. Up to the last century there were still
105 in the old town centre alone.
In 1355 San Gimignano had no less than 72 towers, a symbol of
wealth and prestige for their owners. Today, as a memory of a
glorious past, only 15 remain, plus 2 tower-palazzos.
San Gimignano Guide
Introduction San Gimignano
- UNESCO
- Location
Useful Information
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- Useful addresses and numbers
History
- The History of San Gimignano
To Visit at San Gimignano
Tuscany Tour
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Via Cellole, 81 - 53037 San Gimignano (SI) - Tel: +39 349 8821565 - P.I. 01179250525 - Email: info@asangimignano.com