An itinerary in the places of the Supreme Poet, through the city that witnessed his historic speech
San Gimignano was written in the destiny of Dante Alighieri who came here in 1300 seeking a political alliance. The diplomatic mission is among the few documented in the Liber Reformationum preserved in the State Archives.
Along this path, we will not only discover where Dante passed by, but also the numerous connections between his Divine Comedy and the medieval artistic heritage.
The itinerary starts from the Palazzo Comunale in San Gimignano where on May 7, 1300, Dante Alighieri arrived as the ambassador for the Guelph league. Dante made his speech in the room that's now dedicated to him. Looking up, he saw the same paintings depicting the tournaments of knights and hunting scenes by Azzo di Masetto that we can still admire.
Heading up the stairs, you reach the Podestà's Room that's decorated with the cycle painted by Memmo di Filippuccio at the beginning of the fourteenth century. The scene of the readers could represent Paolo and Francesca's kiss although we do not know if it is actually a kiss due to an abrasion on the fresco. However, "Galeotto has been the book and who wrote it" (Inferno, V).
Once you have seen the Camera del Podestà, it's highly recommended to climb to the top of the Torre Grossa for an unforgettable panorama. At the time of Dante, the tower was still under construction.
The itinerary starts from the Palazzo Comunale in San Gimignano where on May 7, 1300, Dante Alighieri arrived as the ambassador for the Guelph league. Dante made his speech in the room that's now dedicated to him. Looking up, he saw the same paintings depicting the tournaments of knights and hunting scenes by Azzo di Masetto that we can still admire.
Heading up the stairs, you reach the Podestà's Room that's decorated with the cycle painted by Memmo di Filippuccio at the beginning of the fourteenth century. The scene of the readers could represent Paolo and Francesca's kiss although we do not know if it is actually a kiss due to an abrasion on the fresco. However, "Galeotto has been the book and who wrote it" (Inferno, V).
Once you have seen the Camera del Podestà, it's highly recommended to climb to the top of the Torre Grossa for an unforgettable panorama. At the time of Dante, the tower was still under construction.
Dante confined Pope Martin IV to Purgatory (in canto XXIV of the Divine Comedy) to punish him for his gluttony, in particular for consuming eels cooked in Vernaccia, a white wine that's much-loved all over the world.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is characterized by a pale, straw-yellow colour, that becomes more golden as it ages. It has a delicate aroma and a dry and balanced flavour. This wine was greatly popular in the Middle Ages and also in the Renaissance and then came back into vogue when local winemakers rediscovered the value of the historic vine. It became DOC in 1966 and DOCG in 1993. At the Rocca Vernaccia Wine Experience, we can discover its history and also the flavour of this typical product of San Gimignano.
Dante confined Pope Martin IV to Purgatory (in canto XXIV of the Divine Comedy) to punish him for his gluttony, in particular for consuming eels cooked in Vernaccia, a white wine that's much-loved all over the world.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is characterized by a pale, straw-yellow colour, that becomes more golden as it ages. It has a delicate aroma and a dry and balanced flavour. This wine was greatly popular in the Middle Ages and also in the Renaissance and then came back into vogue when local winemakers rediscovered the value of the historic vine. It became DOC in 1966 and DOCG in 1993. At the Rocca Vernaccia Wine Experience, we can discover its history and also the flavour of this typical product of San Gimignano.
In the Cathedral of San Gimignano, or the collegiate of Santa Maria Assunta, you can find a fresco by Taddeo di Bartolo. While very beautiful, it is also disturbing given that it represents Satan devouring the traitors of spiritual and political authority, Judas, Brutus and Cassius. The iconography of Satan is inspired by the Divine Comedy, in particular by canto XXXIV of the Inferno.
At the centre of the counter-façade, there's a contemporary rose window made by Marcello Aitiani that was inspired by Dante's Paradise. Iridescenze, the title of the stained glass window created in 2003, alludes to Dante's vision of the trinity: the three people are reflected in each other, "iri da iri", as if from rainbow to a rainbow (Paradiso, XXXIII).
In the Cathedral of San Gimignano, or the collegiate of Santa Maria Assunta, you can find a fresco by Taddeo di Bartolo. While very beautiful, it is also disturbing given that it represents Satan devouring the traitors of spiritual and political authority, Judas, Brutus and Cassius. The iconography of Satan is inspired by the Divine Comedy, in particular by canto XXXIV of the Inferno.
At the centre of the counter-façade, there's a contemporary rose window made by Marcello Aitiani that was inspired by Dante's Paradise. Iridescenze, the title of the stained glass window created in 2003, alludes to Dante's vision of the trinity: the three people are reflected in each other, "iri da iri", as if from rainbow to a rainbow (Paradiso, XXXIII).
In the historic centre, a number of architectural restorations were carried out in 1921 on the occasion of the sixth centenary of Dante's death to reconstruct Dante's world even more faithfully. Among these is Porta San Giovanni. To give more space and visibility to the beautiful door that's accessed from the south, part of the Chiesa dei Lumi was demolished. However, the bell tower of the church remains visible from outside the door.
In the historic centre, a number of architectural restorations were carried out in 1921 on the occasion of the sixth centenary of Dante's death to reconstruct Dante's world even more faithfully. Among these is Porta San Giovanni. To give more space and visibility to the beautiful door that's accessed from the south, part of the Chiesa dei Lumi was demolished. However, the bell tower of the church remains visible from outside the door.
The Romanesque church of San Lorenzo in Ponte is one of the oldest in the village and is entirely decorated with fifteenth-century frescoes by Cenni di Francesco di ser Cenni. The theme of the cycle is that of the afterlife, with San Lorenzo saving the souls of Purgatory, with very intriguing details depicting Hell and Heaven.
In the church, it's also possible to see the fresco depicting the Madonna and Child in Glory whose faces were painted by a young Simone Martini, the greatest exponent of the Sienese Gothic.
The Romanesque church of San Lorenzo in Ponte is one of the oldest in the village and is entirely decorated with fifteenth-century frescoes by Cenni di Francesco di ser Cenni. The theme of the cycle is that of the afterlife, with San Lorenzo saving the souls of Purgatory, with very intriguing details depicting Hell and Heaven.
In the church, it's also possible to see the fresco depicting the Madonna and Child in Glory whose faces were painted by a young Simone Martini, the greatest exponent of the Sienese Gothic.
Our walk ends with the Municipal Library and the Historical Archive that houses valuable documents and an important catalogue, the result of the great work by Ugo Nomi Venerosi Pesciolini. He supported the library that was inaugurated in 1874 in Palazzo Marsili, that is now known as Palazzo della Cancelleria. It was restored in the same period as Porta San Giovanni on the occasion of the sixth centenary of the death of the Supreme Poet.
As you have seen, Dante has left indelible marks in San Gimignano. We invite you to discover them, one by one.
Our walk ends with the Municipal Library and the Historical Archive that houses valuable documents and an important catalogue, the result of the great work by Ugo Nomi Venerosi Pesciolini. He supported the library that was inaugurated in 1874 in Palazzo Marsili, that is now known as Palazzo della Cancelleria. It was restored in the same period as Porta San Giovanni on the occasion of the sixth centenary of the death of the Supreme Poet.
As you have seen, Dante has left indelible marks in San Gimignano. We invite you to discover them, one by one.