All the gold in San Gimignano

Dante's quotation in the Divine Comedy and its being Tuscany's only white DOCG have made Vernaccia an inimitable wine, where the longevity of its history goes hand in hand with a vast notoriety. The golden reflections that dance in the glasses and the delicate perfume that distinguishes it fall under the protection of the consortium of the same name and the production regulations. The consortium is also responsible for setting up the Vernaccia Wine Experience - La Rocca, a documentation and tasting centre focusing on local and excellent products.

In spring, the debut of the new vintages is a moment of celebration. Eagerly awaited and desired, they are presented at an annual event that welcomes wine experts and wine lovers: the Vernaccia Preview is an opportunity to taste the new flavours, diving into a sea of golden yellow hues that swirl around in a glass of wine.

Painters, sculptors and artists of all kinds have frequented the historic buildings of San Gimignano, leaving works that have become one of the city's most precious heritages over the centuries.
In the Sala Dante of the Palazzo Pubblico, where the Supreme Poet delivered his famous harangue in favour of the Guelph League, a large fresco attracts attention at first glance: Lippo Memmi's Maestà is a dance of shapes and colours, dominated by the glow of thirty gold leaf frescoed halos.

Gilded inserts also guide the discovery of Jacopo della Quercia's wooden choir - preserved in the Cathedral and to which Martino di Bartolomeo added the gilded punches - as well as the altar in the Chapel of Santa Fina.

The yellow pansies that bloom in spring in San Gimignano, colouring the centuries-old stone walls and buildings with golden flashes, are linked to Santa Fina, the patron saint of the town. It is said that during the funeral celebrations for the death of Fina Ciardi on March 12, 1253, an enveloping perfume of violets wafted through the streets, and yellow flowers sprang up in every corner, continuing to bloom every year in the same month.

On the table, one spice above all tells the story of the city: saffron colours every dish with its characteristic hue, a deep yellow like the rays of the sun, precious since the Middle Ages. Numerous spice merchants became rich from the saffron trade and built towers as a sign of power. Many centuries later, this spice remains one of the local excellences that speak of tradition, dedication and authenticity, evidenced by the PDO designation.

The discovery of the deepest spirit of San Gimignano passes through the exploration of its uniqueness, in the palaces as in the churches, at the table as in the countryside, to immerse oneself in a treasure made up of stories, products, places and people.