San Gimignano

San Gimignano stands 334 meters above the sea level on the site of a small etruscan settlement dating from the hellenistic period (Third to Second century B.C.). Its history begins around the Tenth Century. It takes its name from the canonised Bishop of Modena who in the Sixth Century saved the town from Totila's invading hordes. It developed considerably during the Middle Ages thanks to the Via Francigena which runs through the town, and there was a remarkable flowering of works of art, adorning churches, palaces and monasteries. When in 1199 the town became a free commune, ridding itself of the Feudal ties to the Bishop of Volterra, it began its impressive growth as an urban centre. It fought against the bishop and neighbouring communes, but suffered from internal strife, splitting into two factions, followers of the Ardinghelli (Guelphs) and the Salvucci (Ghibellines). The terrible plague of 1348 and subsequent fall in population dealt a severe blow to the trading economy of San Gimignano. The deep crisis led the governors of the city to declare their submission to Florence in 1535. This, though, did not help the city of San Gimignano which in the succeeding centuries suffered considerable decline and neglect. However, the beauty of the town and its artistic and architectural importance, have led in recent years to an excellent economic and cultural revival.