Associazione Città Italiane Patrimonio Mondiale UNESCO

The story behind the founding of San Gimignano has been lost in the mists of time. Legend would attribute it to two young Roman noblemen who were on the run after having been involved in the Catalina conspiracy. In AD 63 the two brothers Muzio and Silvio took refuge in Valdelsa and there built two castles. One was named Mucchio and the other Silvia, that became the first name of the future town of San Gimignano. Round about the 10th century AD, the name of the town changed to San Gimignano that was the name of a Modenese bishop from the 5th century AD.
There is no doubt that the area of San Gimignano was inhabited from pre-historical times. However, from ancient Etruscan times onwards, traces of established settlements are much more consistent. The notable Pugiano scared area, situated in the unspoiled valleys of the River Riguardi dates back to this time.
Traces of previous settlements from subsequent periods are more substantial, particularly those from Greek times. The discovery of tombs in the historic centre would indicate that they probably lived on the same hill as where San Gimignano was located. If the inhabitants lived on the high ground during the Etruscan period, it would seem that with Roman colonisation, they began to show a preference for living on the valley floor, specially near the water’s edge. It should be remembered that riverbanks were frequently flanked by roads. The Villa Romana di Chiusi is situated near the River Fosci.
From the cluster of little rural villages from the Etruscan and the Roman periods, gathered around the more substantial Volterra, it changed towards the end of High Mediaeval period to become the true heart of what is now the Historic Centre.
In 998, San Gimignano was still a village on the edges of Francigena. This was politically the fief of the bishop of Volterra who resided in a castle situated in Poggio della Torre. This castle now serves as a prison. San Gimignano began to grow in the Low Mediaeval period when it found itself in a geographically strategically important position. The city that was boundaried by the first ring of defensive walls and the surrounding hills on the Francigena Way was becoming a frequent halt for the many travellers along this road. Francigena, originally opened by the Lombards became, during the High Mediaeval period, the route for pilgrims travelling towards Rome. This applied particularly to the French.
In 1199, the city that had grown considerably by this stage, was declared a free commune and was ruled by Consuls and then by a Magistrate who was replaced every so often. The Magistrate, for reasons of impartiality, was always an outsider and held the position for six months at a time. The commune of San Gimignano, like many other neighbouring communes, was involved in the conflicts between the Guelfs that had the backing of the Pope and the Ghibellines who were on the side of the Emperor. Although she maintained her independence at great cost, in 1354, San Gimignano accepted the dominion of Florence. From that moment on, she lived under the shadow of the Tuscan capital. The Black Death wrought havoc upon the city and only added to the period of decline the city was already suffering. The plague had terrible consequences on both the population and the economy. In the 17th century, the city became a part of the Medici realm.