Study Abroad Programs in Italy

San Gimignano is a small medieval town in Tuscany, Italy. It is walled, and stands on top of a hill. It is located about 35 minutes northwest of Siena. The city is famous for it's medieval architecture, specifically for it's many towers. The towers were constructed by rich families, and they were symbols of status as well as lodgings and fortresses. In medieval and Renaissance times, San Gimignano was a major stopping point for pilgrims on their way to the Vatican. In other cities like Florence, many of the towers that once dominated the skyline have been victims of the elements, as well as war. San Gimignano has around 15 towers still in tact, all of different heights. San Gimignano is also well known because of it's torture museum. The museum contains displays of various instruments and tools used in different locations and time periods, and their descriptions are even multilingual. There are many churches in the town, and also white wine is grown in the area.