Day 23 – June 11, 2025 – Foiano, Italy

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Day 23 – June 11, 2025 – Foiano, Italy

Today we got up early and headed to San Gimignano for the day, which is about a 1 ½ hour drive. We thought we got there early but parking was crazy, and we basically found a paid parking area and the cars are packed in like sardines. I could barely get out of the car as the two next to us were parked so close. It’s a good thing our car is not big!

Per Rick Steves, the population of San Gimignano is 7800 with about 2000 that live within the walls. The walls circle the preserved stony town that was once on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route to Rome. There are two squares, the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Cisterna, where you find the town well, City Hall and the cathedral. John decided he wanted to be the typical tourist, so put his fingers in the grooves of the well that had been worn down for generations of those that used to fetch water from it.

The town originally had 72 towers, but only 14 survive and you can climb one of them, which is at City Hall.

In the Piazza del Duomo, you can see two towers, the Salvucci Towers, that date from the 13th century. Apparently, the locals claim that the architect who designed the twin towers that stood in NY was inspired by these two towers.

As we got to the center of town, we saw the gelato place Rick Steves had mentioned and the line was short, so we got our gelato early (about 10 am, lol!). John had pink grapefruit with sparkling wine, I had pistachio/chocolate. John said it was the best he’s ever had as he liked the tartness of it.

We were trying to find a place for lunch that was not in any of the squares as the food is usually not as good and we came across a quiet alleyway and found a gem (Ristorante Dorando) and the food was excellent! We started with a pastry with vegetables, ricotta and mushroom sauce. John had Pici with guinea hen ragout, and I had the tagliatelle with garlic, fresh tomatoes, basil and pecorino. We had Vin Santo with cantucci for dessert.

After lunch we headed back to the City Hall, where the Torri de San Gimignano tower is, which is 200 feet high and 218 steps up, and enjoyed the views. On the way up, John had his sunglasses on top of his hat and moved his head quickly and they fell on the platform between the staircases. Neither one of us was able to get our arm down in there so we figured he’d have to buy a new pair. While we were up top, a young man came and asked him if the sunglasses he had in his hand were John’s – he was able to use his bike pump to get them out! Apparently, he saw John lose them. What a nice gesture! After leaving the tower, we decided to head back to the BNB as we had seen most of the town.

For dinner we had salmon and green beans, which was enough for me and John finished up some pasta as well. We finished the evening playing some Rummikub then called a night. What a great day today! There is nothing on the agenda, right now, for tomorrow, so we will see what happens – Ciao!

Great town, but hard to pronounce, lol!
Just outside the walls of the city.
Founded in 1992 by Sergio Dondoli, who is recognized as a Master Gelataio. In 2016 he received the prestigious MAM (Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere) award and is the only gelato maker to receive this honor in Italy.
One of the remaining towers in Piazza della Cisterna.
The well, built in the 13th century and was the main water source for the town’s inhabitants. Notice the grooves from the ropes pulling up the water buckets over the many years.
The line was short at 10am so we took advantage of it!
Love my gelato!
Resurrection of Christ. One of the many paintings inside the Duomo.
A walnut cabinet from the first half of the 16th century. The detailing was just amazing!
Inside the Duomo. This is part of the frescoes from the Old Testament cycle painted by Bartolo di Fredi in the late 14th century. These were absolutely gorgeous!
The vaulted ceiling and apse frescoes. The stained glass window is a rose, though it’s hard to tell from this picture.
Part of the medieval defensive walls of the town and one of the best-preserved walled towns in Tuscany.
The beautiful Tuscan countryside surrounding San Gimignano.
Lunchtime in our quiet alleyway…..
Rolled vegetable and ricotta pastry crisp with a velvety mushroom puree – yummers!
Pici with guinea-hen ragout, truffle and pecorino cheese.
Tagliatelle with garlic, fresh tomoato, basil and pecorino cheese.
Our fave – cantucci with Vin Santo
The Town Hall Courtyard in the Piazza del Duomo. Constructed in the late 13th century and expanded in the 14th century.
Panoramic view from the top of the Torre Grossa.
Standing in the bell chamber of Torre Grossa, right beside the large bronze bells that have rung for many centuries.
The view from the top of the tower.
Inside the Civic Museum, which is right next to the Torra Grossa.
Yummy salmon and green beans, our staple, lol, along with some of Fiorella’s pasta.
Eurasian Hoopoes! They have a distinctive orange crest with black tips and they can raise and lower them like a fan. They have a pinkish-brown head and body with black and white striped wings and tail.
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