San-Gimignano is surrounded by gently-rolling countryside dotted with vines and olive trees. Its 14 grey stone towers set on a hilltop are enclosed within an outer wall including five gates. It has all the charm of a small medieval town, built mainly of brick, and has been amazingly well preserved.

Piazza della Cisterna is paved with bricks laid on their edges in a herring – bone pattern and it derives its name from a 13 C cistern or well (Cisterna). It is one of the most evocative squares in Italy with its tall towers and austere 13C-14C mansions all around.
The collegiate church, palaces and seven towers of nobility line this majestic square.
This 12C Romanesque church was extend in the 15 C by Giuliano da Maiano. The facade was restored in the 19C.

The 13C – 14C Town Hall is dominated by a tall tower, from the top of witch unfolds an unusual view over the brown roofs and towers of the town. The Council Chamber has a remarkable Maesta (Madonna and Child enthroned in Majesty, 1317) by Lippo Memmi, witch was restored c 1467 by Benozzo Gozzoli.

A commanding position overlooking beautiful countryside makes a harmonies setting for the Etruscan and medieval town of Volterra with its well preserved walls. To the northwest of the town there is a wiev of the Balze, impressive precipices , witch are part of highly eroded landscape furrowed by gully erosion.

Piazza dei priori is surrounded by austere palaces. The 13C Palazzo Pretorio has paired windows and is linked with the Torre del Podestà. Also known as Torre del Porcellino because of the wild boar sculpted high up on a bracket. The early – 13C Palazzo de Priori, opposite, is decorated with terracotta, marble and stone shields of the Florentine governors.