|
 San
Gimignano has an architectonic structure, a political system and an
economy which developed between the end of the eleventh and the mid
thirteenth century. The city's maximum development occurred in
those centuries and continued up until 1348, the year of the great
plague, and 1353, the year in which it surrendered to Florence.
Documents relate to us the history of the town from its Etruscan and
Roman origins to the development of the historic center, thanks to
the Francigena road - important for commercial trade, pilgrimages and
exchange of knowledge - which crossed its entire length and brought
wealth and well being. As of 1056 its most important churches - from
the Collegiata to the minor ones scattered around the city and the
countryside - gained importance. Around 1100 the political
establishment of San Gimignano became predominant and the consular
and podestà regimes followed one another, and surrounded the town
with a 2176 meter long wall, with numerous doors placed at intervals.
The activity of its merchants, who exported wine (Vernaccia and Greek
Wine) and saffron, and imported other products from everywhere in
Europe, begetting enormous wealth. This wealth thus accumulated was
re-invested in palaces and towers, as well as in large and small land
holdings, generous alms-giving, donations and works of art. The fame
of the town is owed to all of this, renowned worldwide as it is for
its architecture, churches and treasures of art - which over the
course of the centuries were robbed and dispersed several times. That
which remains has been admirably saved and is today hosted in
churches, museums and art structures, which everybody can visit and
admire to their great pleasure. Thanks to this, San Gimignano is one
of the most renowned cities in the world and has been declared
cultural heritage of the world by Unesco.
 |
