San Gimignano Guide

A Walk around the Walls
In San Gimignano a walk around the mediaeval walls is an absolute must. You can walk the whole perimeter and admire the walls delimiting the old town centre.
Accessible from various points both internally and externally, the itinerary includes beautiful panoramas of the Valdelsa, several 15th – 16th century Medici “Keeps” and the main access gates: Porta San Giovanni (south), Porta Quercecchio (west), Porta San Matteo (north), Porta San Jacopo and Porta delle Fonti (east). Other access gates which remain only in part are Porta Pisana and Porta Mucchiese (Vicolo di S.Agostino).

The Mediaeval Fountains
The “Porta alle Fonti” (Fountain Gate) opens onto the countryside and leads to the public fountains where the people once drew water and washed clothes. Built in 1300, there are ten Romanesque and ogival arches concealing the original fountain in Lombard stone, said to date to the 9th century. The Porta alle Fonti was part of the second circle of city walls but was modified when, in 1930, the superstructure of the chapel dedicated to St Michael was demolished. It had been built there in 1501 and contained a fresco by an unknown 16th century Sienese artist – “Virgin and Child with Saints Michael and John the Baptist” – which is now beneath the loggia of the Town Hall.