You know when you're making your research before going on a trip, and you happen to find a beautiful place you just need to add to your list? Well, San Gimignano was like that for me. I was at home, in Lisbon, searching for towns to visit as a day trip from Siena, and out of the blue, San Gimignano appeared, it was like a beautiful accident that made my days in Italy even better!
Doing San Gimignano as a day trip is actually pretty easy and you can reach it by just taking a bus from Siena and in about one hour and half you'll be in a totally different place!
The town is on top of a big Tuscan hill, with an incredible view as soon as you arrive. And then you pass the walls and you're taken into medieval ages!
The town is on top of a big Tuscan hill, with an incredible view as soon as you arrive. And then you pass the walls and you're taken into medieval ages!
See what I'm talking about?
Ever since I got to Italy, in smaller towns I find it hard to actually see people out in the streets, but even with that San Gimignano surprised me, because behind those walls I just found life. I saw locals buying things at a local street market, saw older people sitting in benches just catching up and I saw groups of young kids eating what's supposed to be the best gelato in the world (or so they say. I can't check this, since I didn't taste one). See? Life! Just people in their ordinary lives, doing their routines and being people. Such a great feeling to be the only person with a camera in hands, instead of battling with a bunch of Chinese people to get the photo of a certain place. Oh yes, I believe they will hit you with their selfie stick if they have to, as long as they can get that photo sitting on a lion statue! Crazy people!
After two weeks in Italy, and still waiting for the perfect time to pay a little bit much for a real Italian pizza, I decided I wouldn't wait anymore. So I got in a restaurante and asked for a pizza. Imagine my look when 2 minutes after I ordered, the man says "Miss, your pizza is ready" and of course by then I knew, it was microwave pizza, not the real and Italian I was waiting for. This made me mad, since I payed 8€ for it but well, again, I live and I learn and this was just another lesson. And to end the meal in perfection, I payed for the most expensive coffee of my life, two euros! Come on, Italy!
Note to self: never, ever, ever ask for a coffee without knowing the price first!
Note to self: never, ever, ever ask for a coffee without knowing the price first!
Want my opinion? Get lost! Wander around the streets, try to fit in by sitting close to the street market and maybe buy something there. Look for the higher points of the town and climb all the way up, and enjoy the view over the Tuscan countryside and fall in love.
As for meals, I suggest you bring something with you, since San Gimignano is a very small town and not a very touristic place, but you'll pay a little too much to eat microwave pizza and a coffee, so maybe just pick something before going and save your money to have a nicer meal in Siena instead.
As for meals, I suggest you bring something with you, since San Gimignano is a very small town and not a very touristic place, but you'll pay a little too much to eat microwave pizza and a coffee, so maybe just pick something before going and save your money to have a nicer meal in Siena instead.
Now, not being informed while you travel, might get you in weird situations, like getting on the wrong bus - because you've been waiting two hours for one to appear, so you just hop on the first one you see -, and you'll end up in a place called Poggibonsi, and you'll freak out because you have never even heard of such a place. And if you're like me, it doesn't really matter how much you plan your day, everthing will go the opposite of what you want.
A day trip to San Gimignano from Siena will cost you 12€ (round-trip: buy both tickets in Siena, since buying tickets from San Gimignano to Siena is not that easy). Keep in mind that the bus is pretty slow, since it's regional and will stop at small towns that you've never even heard of, but it's worth it! Also, on your return, pay attention to the schedules. There's a huge gap on direct buses to Siena during lunch hours (you won't have a bus for like 3h), but you can get buses to Poggibonsi and then change to Siena.