Archive for 'San Gimignano'

The perfectly preserved hilltop town of San Gimignano is a special jewel and looks like a scene pulled right from the pages of a medieval text (though a lot cleaner), boasting astounding views over the rolling green landscape for which Tuscany is now famous. Located 50km south-west of Florence, it is small but packs a serious punch. If you want to experience the great picturesque beauty and well-maintained historic charm of Tuscany but want to get away from the bigger cities in the region, then a villa in San Gimignano is just the thing. Boasting all of the cultural gravitas of any other Tuscan destination and far more to see and do than one might expect, it is a truly picturesque and wonderful gem that makes for an idyllic vacation spot to escape to on your next getaway in Tuscany. Here are just five of the many, many reasons why you should get browsing our vacation rentals in San Gimignanoand start planning your trip today...     Read More

San Gimignano is famous as the Tuscan city of Medieval skyscrapers, a place where nobles competed in building the highest towers. While the town was once full of these extraordinary architectural gems, only a few examples exist today and they are the attraction that most immediately go to see when visiting the city. However, if you have found a luxury villa in San Gimignano and are taking a closer look at all this picturesque and historic gem has to offer then we suggest you also look past the ancient and iconic and see what is happening in the contemporary world of art and design and the here and now because, among those winding Medieval streets, you will find one of the world’s most respected contemporary art galleries.

The Galleria Continua is very much the definition of a hidden gem, something one would never expect in an old cinema in the historic core of San Gimignano but is definitely a gem nonetheless. Founded in 1990 by three friends, Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi, and Maurizio Rigillo, the gallery has grown in scale and reputation in the thirty years since its inauguration and now also has locations in Les Moulins (just outside Paris), Havana (Cuba), Beijing (China), and Rome. Having showcased works by globally-renowned talents like Ai Weiwei, Ethel Adnan, The Kabakovs, and Michelangelo Pistoletto, it truly is an extraordinary gallery to stumble across in a small town!     Read More

Italy is not a famous beer-producing country, unlike many of its neighbouring European counterparts further north. If you are planning a holiday in Tuscany, you are likely to be thinking of evenings spent sipping wine on a terrace, meals accompanied by excellent vintages and wonderful local wines, and day-trips to some of the region's incredible wineries and vineyards both small and intimate and massive and famous (read about some of our favourite Tuscan vineyards here). However, despite this long history of wine production and this reputation for being excellent producers of wine over beer, a craft brewing scene has developed in Tuscany in recent years, as it has in many far flung places the world over. If you're planning a trip to Tuscany and like wine well enough but can't quite give up your beer (and who can blame you; does anything hit the spot quite like a cold brew when you're on holidays?), then never fear! Read on to our guide to some of the must-see and must-sip craft beer spots that can be found in Tuscany.

Today, in fact, there are over 100 craft breweries in Tuscany alone! Despite the restrictions and intense specifications that are enforced in the production of craft beers in Italy, the industry has flourished in the region. The oldest example of one such establishment dates back to 2006...     Read More

The Vernaccia is one of the oldest indigenous vine varieties in Italy and also refers to a wine area that is intrinsically tied to the history of San Gimignano. Brought to the area from Liguria in the 1200s by Vieri de' Bardi and with exact origins unknown, it was an incredibly famous and popular wine in the Middle Ages but, so tied to the fate of the city as it was, it declined in prestige and importance as the city itself became less important. That is, however, until the second half of the 20th century when it was rediscovered by local winemakers who breathed new life into the wine and got it to DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) status in 1966. In fact, it was the first Italian wine ever to get this label and then went on to obtain the DOCG quality assurance in 1993.

Today, Vernaccia vineyards cover over 768 hectares, which are tended by 177 winemakers, producing around 4 million litres (or approximately 5 million bottles) of wine per annum. The Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a non-profit association that was founded in 1999 in order to promote the local wine-producing area and are also in charge of managing the Wine Museum in Villa della Rocca and it is precisely this museum that makes a vacation rental in San Gimignano such an excellent holiday destination in Tuscany for wine-lovers. For the most perfect setting to sip, savour and learn, this pretty city is hard to beat and the museum means you have wonderful resources right at your fingertips.     Read More