SAN GIMIGNANO AND VAL D'ELSA

Thanks to a wonderful geographic position, the Val d’Elsa, since the XIth century acquired an certain importance in the art of manufacturing. The river flowing through Colle made it a capital in the wool, glass  and  paper industry . Today it is at its most for the crystal producing in Europe. After a visit to its medieval village, once a castle, go and visit the crystal museum or  see the making of it in one of the many factories of the town.
San Gimignano is worldwide famous for its special urban structure dating back to the XIII-XIV th centuries. Definitely the best preserved in Europe. Founded at the junction between the via Francigena and ancient commercial routes, San Gimignano boasted a florid trade of saffron and wine with Italian and European markets. Nowadays fourteen towers survive its sudden and short economic development as well as its two town halls or its Collegiata  extraordinarily rich in frescoes. A wine taste of its celebrated vernaccia is not to be missed.