千塔之城San Gimignano

自駕歐遊托斯卡納 Toscana其中一大樂趣是

可隨時隨地探訪山中的中古城鎮村落,

因為這一帶有豐富的歷史與藝術，每一個村都有它的特色,

一個教人難忙的中古城鎮有千塔之城美譽的San Gimignano，

'San Gimignano delle belle Torri', 離 Florence 56km,

座落於相互交錯的丘陵以及山中盆地中，

在進入山城前, 在遠處已可看欣賞到一下塔城14座塔樓的全景!

 it was about 10 am in the morning  and we spent half an hour looking for a parking.
There were two to three parking at each gate!

In the friction by John Grisham,  The Broker, Joel Backman takes his second wife on vacation in Italy to keep her from divorcing him. They rent a fourteenth –century monastery near San Gimignano for a month. After reading his book, we made a trip to visit this little town, a medieval town famous among the Italians.

遠處已可看到古城的十三個高塔塔樓的全景，最高有50米,

有眺望、守禦的用途, 是全義大利保存最好的。
這些高塔於十二至十三世紀時，全盛期達72座，現只剩下13座，
這些塔樓，是中世紀貴族與封建大地主的權力及財富象徵,
中世紀貴族的財富都顯示在高塔愈多愈有錢,

走在狹窄的街道，漫步於街道的階梯，

一切彷佛又跌入了中世紀的歷史隧道中。

讓自己慢慢沈澱，靜靜懷想它曾經輝煌燦爛的過往。

The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-
houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power.

Although only 13 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its
 feudal atmosphere and appearance.

1990年，意大利古城San Gimignano被列入世界遺產名單。

San Gimignano是山城，300 m above sea level,
San Gimignano  served as an important relay point for pilgrims,

travelling to or from Rome  on the Via Francigena.

追遡十世紀，由Modena主教San Gimignano建城，

至今仍保留部份城牆, 城牆區內是行人專用區, 嚴禁非居民汽車進入;

all car must park outside the wall。

pic from web

We went to Siena on 25 July of 2005 the day after the hottest day in the summer,  it was so hot that we give up the idea of climbling up the tower! That year, there were hit waves striking Europe again.  Even though it was about 40c still there were tourists everywhere.  It is one of the most popular town for tourists.
 

穿過San Matteo gate    Via San Giovanni 行到上去廣場,好 熱呢!

10am in the morning,  it was already 30 C. 

many people is having 都攞住杯好味 意大利gelato 雪糕on hand!

Entering from north, San Matteo Gate walking towards the south

 Via San Giovanni to the San Giovanni Gate.

Through via San Matteo  lead  to Piazza del Duomo.

at Piazza del Duomo,  finds the  la Collegiata  (小教堂),

next to it is Town hall,  Palazzo del Popolo and Torre Grossa,

view from Tower Grossa (pic from wiki)***

opposite to La collegiate  is Palazzo Vecchio del Podest (1239),

the oldest tower,  from the stairs leads to Museo Civico, 

 

 

穿過廣場 行到去Palazzo Vecchio del Podesta (1239),

from the stairs in front of the la Collegiata

 

 

除了這些古建築，城中亦有不少藝術品收藏在 教堂、博物館裡。
Romanesque的La Collegiata 教堂,  Sant ‘Agostino, Museo Civico,
 Museo d’Arte Sacra。

Fresco of San Fatina Pic from web

The town also has several masterpieces of 14th- and 15th-century Italian art.  It is  an extraordinary treasure chest, not to miss.

小教堂 La Collegiata的Fresco, the two side are extensively covered with dramatic  cycles of scenes from the Bibles.



The north side comprise 26 episodes from old Testament, including the creation of Adam and Eve, Noah and his Ark , Moses crossing the Red sea and the creation (1367) by Bartolo di Fredi.

The south side are the life of Christ by Lippo Memmi,

While at the back of the Nave walls are scenes from the Last Judgement painted by Taddeo di Bartolo (1393- 36).

 









Piazza della cisterna,ringed by a group of unspoilt 13^th and 14 th century palazzo, built in 1237.
in Museo Civico , one of the last works to be painted by Pinturicchio. the Madonna with Saints Gregory and the Benedict (1511)

 

在城牆外便是一望無際的田野!

 

San Gimignano是山城, 城牆眺望 Val d’Elsa 葡萄vineyard,

這兒製造的白葡萄酒Vernaccia(DOCG)很出名，

歴史悠久，始於13世紀，其黄土沙泥地種植Vernaccia葡萄，

酒的顏色呈黃色，陳年後接近金黄Vernaccia白葡萄酒。

Many people think Tuscany white wine are less interesting than reds. Most Tuscan white wine is made from the Trebbiano grape called Galestro a dry bianco (white).

But Vernaccia di San Gimignano is an exceptionally good one.

 

Vernaccia (left)
1966年全意大利第一支獲得政府評為DOC (標準酒質控制)的白葡萄酒。



1993年更成為更高級的DOCG(酒質控制保証的標準)評價 。

DOC = Denominazione di Origine Controllata

DOCG = Donominazione di Origine Controllate e Garantita
義大利酒的歷史遠於羅馬時期，比法國的酒還早了幾百年，

而現今的義大利則與法國並列為葡萄酒的生產大國。

相較於其他國家的產區只集中在某些區域，

義大利由於是狹長型國土，又濱地中海的關係，

幾乎從北到南都是葡萄酒的產區。

為了方便管理，義大利於1963年制定了葡萄酒法規，

將義大利的葡萄酒分成四個等級。

其中DOCG、DOC標誌的是最優與次優的評定，基本上，

這兩種等級酒標上都會註明。

DOCG：Denominazione di origine controllata e Gauantita

原產地名稱管制保證。

此等級的酒生產規定嚴格，如土壤、品種的採用，

單位面積都有限制，還要求一定的歷史條件。

如托斯卡尼的Chianti 、皮蒙特Piemonte的Barolo都是此等級。

DOC：Denominazione di origine controllata原產地名稱管制。

表示此等級的酒有原產地葡萄種類、製造方法與貯存方式都須標示。.

Where to get wines in San Gimignano,

At via San Matteo, there are many trattoria and Osteria, enoteca (shops for wines) and shops for local product catered for the local residents. Price are better in compare with those at Via Giovanni.

On the way going up to the wall city, there are many Osterie (Osteria) for wine.  We have lunch at one of the Osterie and the food is delicious!



Vino Santo with Cantucci


Vino Santo is made from Holy wine is a traditional wine once made on farms throughout the region and now seeing a revival of interest from modern producers. It is sweet and often offered with Cantucci, small almond biscuits.

Vino Santo is made from Trebbiano and Malvasia madeinto wine and then aged in small barrels for a number of years before bottling. The best are very concentrated in flavour.



Shops closed on monday morning

www. San Gimignano.com