My husband and I spent 24 days touring Tuscany, Umbria & Lazio in a car Sept. 2006, and San Gimignano was by far our most favorite small town of the whole trip. Even tho it's difficult to navigate your car to the hotel to unload your bags on your first try, once you get the layout of the town in your hand, it's easy to walk the whole town. (Be sure to get specific driving directions to your hotel and have a map of the town before you try to enter or you'll be driving in circles for hours.) Parking is not allowed inside the old walls (as is the same with all medieval towns in Italy), but there's plenty of parking spaces outside the walls, some cheaper than others (or even free!) if you don't mind walking a little farther.

The Tourist Information office located in the center of town on Piazza del Duomo offers self guided audio tours in several languages and it is excellent. Be sure to plan to spend the entire day doing this because you can see the whole town in one day if you begin at 9 a.m. Just follow the map and listen to your audio guide and you will be fascinated by the rich history of the people, architecture, art and culture. The town is famous for having more medieval towers still standing than any other town in Italy (14) and possibly more than any medieval town in the world. Whenever you get the chance, climb the towers to see views of the town from the top, as well as breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside in all directions from atop the Torre Grosse, the tallest tower in town and part of the City Hall museum complex.

There are many wine shops featuring local and non-local wines, but be sure to sample several varieties of vernaccia, the most famous wine produced by San Gimignano vineyards. Also try some wild boar and boar sausage products at any ristorante or several meat markets in town. This is a delicacy of the region and is very good, especially if you like jerky or salamies.

There are several fine hotels in town. La Cisterna is housed in a 14th century tower with room views overlooking the piazza or the countryside. Rooms include a very good breakfast in their ristorante, La Terrazze, that also comes with excellent views of the countryside.

If you don't do the entire audio guide tour, don't miss seeing the interior of Collegiate di Santa Maria Assunta, the main duomo (cathedral) in town located right next to the City Hall. If you climb the Torre Grossa to the top, be sure to inquire on what times the bell tolls before you go up because the sound can be deafening if you happen to be at the top when it rings.

Gift shops feature a lot of alabaster products, hand-made in the area, as well as reproductions of local medieval and Renaissance art. Even the smallest of churches are beautiful, so don't pass up any of them if you find them open.