VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO These are the characteristics of VERNACCIA di SAN GIMIGNANO:

Vernaccia di San Gimignano, which COLOUR: golden colour ; has been considered Italy’s finest SCENT: penetrating; white wine since Renaissance, was TASTE: dry; the first Italian wine to receive to SUGAR: max 4%; the DOC status in 1966. TOTAL ACIDITY: min. 5%;

DRY EXTRACT: net min. 15%; The Vernaccia is produced ALCOHOLIC GRADE: min. 11%; exclusively in the Medieval town of

San Gimignano (Siena). The period VERNACCIA di SAN GIMIGNANO when the grape harvest takes place is an excellent aperitif. It is also is from September 15 to October excellent with horsd'oeuvres, and 15.The wine-making process follows fish and white meat courses. It the traditional method with a gentle must be served cool at a pressing and low temperature in temperature of 11 -12° C. order to maintain its exceptional fragrance.The fermentation has a medium duration of 12 - 18 days.

Province: Siena

Country: Italy MIRIANA CANNAROZZO Region: Tuscany ERIKA LAMBERTUCCI Altitude: 324 metres MICHELA TELESCA Patron Saints: I.T.C. CATTANEO San Gimignano and Santa Fina SAN MINIATO

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From here it is easy to reach the Near the Rocca there is a small beautiful CHURCH OF SANT’AGOSTINO, terrace and THE WINE MUSEUM, which is a large Romanesque-Gothic which is a tribute to the quality and th church dating back to the late 13 prestige of “Vernaccia di San century. It contains a marble altar Gimignano”. by Benedetto da Maiano, important The Museum, located in Villa della Renaissance works of art, splendid Rocca di Montestaffoli, was frescoes by Pollaiolo and designed by the architect Duccio Ghirlandaio and outstanding Santini and is run by the “Vernaccia frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli di San Gimignano” Wine Road depicting “Episodes in the Life of Association. In the museum there St. Augustine”. Next to the church are photos and videos about the we can see the AUGUSTINIAN origins and history of “Vernaccia di CONVENT and a cloister. San Gimignano”. If you are interested in museums, you can also visit the MODERN ART MUSEUM, which exhibits

works of art from the 19th century to the present day and the ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, which contains Roman and Etruscan artefacts, funerary urns and Medieval and Renaissance ceramics Our walk continues towards the and glassware “ROCCA”, a ruined fortress on the highest part of the hill, which was built under the Florentine rule. It is surrounded by parks and olive groves where you can sit and admire the Tuscan landscape.

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The civic museum is on the top floor century. It is the tallest tower in and contains beautiful frescoes town (54 metres). From its top you such as “Maestà” by Lippo Memmi. can enjoy a wonderful view of the The ART GALLERY contains a Tuscan countryside: lovely Tuscan hills with villages, villas and groves of trees.

In Piazza del Duomo we can also see PALAZZO DEL PODESTA', which is located on the opposite side of the Cathedral. It dates back to the 13th century and it is characterized by a stone and brick façade and by a tower called “LA ROGNOSA”, collection of Florentine and Sienese also known as TORRE DEL school paintings from the 13th to PODESTA'. This tower was built in the 15th centuries including works the 13th century and belonged to of art by Filippo Lippi and Benozzo the Gregori-Oti family. It is almost Gozzoli. 52 metres tall and is the second On the right-hand side of the Town tallest tower in town. Hall we can admire the wonderful ”TORRE GROSSA” (Great Tower), th which dates back to the 14

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SAN GIMIGNANO: Middle Ages the town increased in It has a fine brick and stone façade Our tour continues with the TOWN wealth due to its position on a trade dating back to the 13th century. HALL, which stands to the left of

and pilgrimage route, the famous Inside the church there are the Cathedral. It was built in the San Gimignano is a small Medieval Via Francigena, which was the most beautiful Sienese and Florentine 13th century and it is the seat of town in the Province of Siena, in important route connecting Italy to School frescoes such as the “Last the CIVIC MUSEUM and the Tuscany. It rises on top of a hill the rest of Europe. In the 12th Judgement” by ART GALLERY, so it is one of the (344 metres high) dominating the century the town became a Free Taddeo di most important monuments in San Elsa Valley and it is a famous Municipality. Due to internal Bartolo, Gimignano. tourist town, whose unique struggles its inhabitants divided collection of towers and winding into two factions: the Guelphs and 3 lanes makes it a charming the Ghibellines. In the 13th century “the Martyrdom destination for tourists. Its it became a very important of St. historic centre is a Unesco World producer of saffron, which was Sebastian” by Heritage Site. The town is also exported not only to Genoa, Pisa and Benozzo known for its white wine called Lucca, but also to France and the Gozzoli, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Low Countries. Between the 11th “Episodes from the Old and New

and the 13th centuries seventy-two Testament” by towers were built, rising above the Bartolo di Fredi and “Stories of town’s rooftops to witness San Santa Fina” by Ghirlandaio. Gimignano’s prosperity. Nowadays At the bottom of the right nave of there are only fourteen towers. the Cathedral we can admire THE After the Black Death, the town CHAPEL OF SANTA FINA, which was subdued by Florence; this put a is a masterpiece by Giuliano and halt to its progress. In the Benedetto da Maiano (1468). On the following centuries the town walls there are frescoes depicting overcame its decline when its “Scenes from the Life of the Saint” beauty and cultural importance by Ghirlandaio. Santa Fina, who is together with its agricultural the Patron Saint of San Gimignano,

heritage were rediscovered. is buried under the altar. On the HISTORY altar there is a tabernacle

containing Santa Fina’s relics. Santa San Gimignano was founded by the Fina (1238-1253) is celebrated in Etruscans in the 3rd century. It San Gimignano on 12th March, the began its life as a town in the 10th anniversary of her death. On that century, when it adopted the name day her relics are carried in of the Bishop of Modena, Saint procession in order to bless the Geminianus, who had defended it town. from the Huns, led by Attila. In the 3 8 ITINERARY CHURCH.It is a Romanesque church, Our walking tour begins at the which was built in the 12th century TOWN WALLS. We can pass and was enlarged by Giuliano da through SAN GIOVANNI'S GATE Maiano in the 15th century. and walk along Via San Giovanni, a street flanked by old palaces, going up to the centre of the town. From here it is easy to reach PIAZZA DELLA CISTERNA.

This square has a triangular shape and it is lined with beautiful Medieval buildings and towers. It takes its name from the 13th – century cistern, located in its centre. Leaving Piazza dell Cisterna behind us, we head off to PIAZZA DEL DUOMO, which contains the most important buildings and palaces in San Gimignano.

On the left, at the top of a long 7 flight of steps, we can admire the 4

CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA or THE COLLEGIATA