San Gimignano = World’s Best Gelato

This weekend we had a trip to San Gimignano and Volterra. I liked our trip to San Gimiguano a little better, and I have a few reasons why.

Let’s start with our trip to Volterra. Volterra is a small town, about 1 hour from Siena. They aren’t really known for anything... but for having a large metal mine…and being the setting for the book series Twilight. Yep… I went to vampire land. It was cool, but not super exciting. I went to an Etruscan museum and that was neat. But by the 10^th room of Etruscan Tombs, I was ready to head back to the bus. Volterra was fun, but nothing like San Gimignano.

San Gimignano is a larger town and after Siena is the highest tourist destination in the Tuscany providence. Hundreds of years ago 76 towers were present in San Gimignano. Today there are only 13 remaining. These towers were used as houses. They only used ladders in these tall towers. This was because if they were attacked. they would simply raise the ladders and the enemy could not reach them. The kitchens of these houses were found on the top level in case there was a fire. Then only the top level would burn. The people of San Gimignano were very smart!

 

One of the 13 tower homes.

The Beautiful View

We arrived and headed to one of these towers. We made our way up the staircase and then climbed a ladder to the roof. The view was amazing. Green vineyards could be seen in every direction. This is what I pictured Italy to look like.

Not only was San Gimignano beautiful…it is home to the World’s BEST Gelato…Literally. The Pluripremiata Gelato Shop has won the competition for the world’s best gelato in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. After a cone of peach and mango gelato, I was in heaven. It was very yummy and the best gelato I have had yet!