Via San Giovanni (San Giovanni Street), San Gimignano
The San Giovanni Street runs through the center of San Gimignano, from the Cistern Square (Piazza della Cisterna) to the Saint John's Gate (Porta San Giovanni). The street was created when the San Giovanni area was still outside the city walls in 1214. The ancient city gate still exists as the Becci Arch (Arco dei Becci), a gateway to the Cistern Square.
Saint John's Gate opens on Court of the Martyrs of Montemaggio (Piazzale dei Montemaggio), the former site of the Convent of Saint Francis. San Giovanni Street is the main pedestrian street of San Gimignano. Passing through the old wall via the Saint John's Gate, one is, as if by magic, shifted to an ancient time and place.
A walk through the lanes and alleys of the area doesn't take very long. The Old City is only 2,300 feet long north and south and 1,150 feet "crosstown." Crowded with towers along the way, it is like a medieval Manhattan. With all the things to see, the walk along San Giovanni Street should take only about twenty minutes.
On both sides of the street are semi-detached houses of stone, stone and brick towers, tower houses, churches, hospices for pilgrims and palaces for nobility. Many of these are given over to commercial uses and tourism.
Saint John's Gate opens on Court of the Martyrs of Montemaggio (Piazzale dei Montemaggio), the former site of the Convent of Saint Francis. San Giovanni Street is the main pedestrian street of San Gimignano. Passing through the old wall via the Saint John's Gate, one is, as if by magic, shifted to an ancient time and place.
A walk through the lanes and alleys of the area doesn't take very long. The Old City is only 2,300 feet long north and south and 1,150 feet "crosstown." Crowded with towers along the way, it is like a medieval Manhattan. With all the things to see, the walk along San Giovanni Street should take only about twenty minutes.
On both sides of the street are semi-detached houses of stone, stone and brick towers, tower houses, churches, hospices for pilgrims and palaces for nobility. Many of these are given over to commercial uses and tourism.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Gimignano. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Via San Giovanni (San Giovanni Street) on Map
Sight Name: Via San Giovanni (San Giovanni Street)
Sight Location: San Gimignano, Italy (See walking tours in San Gimignano)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Gimignano, Italy (See walking tours in San Gimignano)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Gimignano, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in San Gimignano
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Gimignano is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
San Gimignano Towers Walk
Known as the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages”, San Gimignano is renowned for its collection of medieval skyscrapers whose verticality and density produce a rather unique and impressive sight.
Clustered together, these slender towers served as both family homes and status symbols for the noble families who built them. Apart from showcasing the prosperity and influence of their owners, they... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.2 Km or 0.1 Miles
Clustered together, these slender towers served as both family homes and status symbols for the noble families who built them. Apart from showcasing the prosperity and influence of their owners, they... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.2 Km or 0.1 Miles
San Gimignano Introduction Walking Tour
Visitors are universally spellbound when they discover San Gimignano, one of the many jewels in the crown of Italy’s Tuscany. The reason for this lies in the well-preserved feudal atmosphere and appearance from the Middle Ages with its architectural integrity and original intact urban layout.
The history of the town dates back to the Etruscan period. However, it was during the Middle Ages... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
The history of the town dates back to the Etruscan period. However, it was during the Middle Ages... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles