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San Gimignano in Provincia di Siena, Tuscany, Italy — Southern and Western Europe (Mediterranean)
 

Via Francigena

Canterbury--------▶Roma--------▶Gerusalemme

 
 
Via Francigena Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 27, 2025
1. Via Francigena Marker
Inscription. La Via Francigena θ un antico itinerario che unisce Canterbury con Roma e la Puglia. Durante il medioevo la Via era percorsa soprattutto da pellegrini diretti alla tomba di San Pietro o in Terrasanta.
Nel 1994 θ stata riconosciuta dal Consiglio d'Europa come Itinerario Culturale, e a partire dal Giubileo del 2000 θ stato tracciato, segnalato e messo in sicurezza l'itinerario pedona-le, oggi percorso da migliaia di viandanti.

Via Francigena is an ancient road that connects Canterbury with Rome and Apulia. During the Middle Ages, the route was traveled mostly by pilgrims, headed to the tomb of St. Peter or to the Holy Land.
In 1994, it was recognized by the Council of Europe as a Cultural Route. Starting in 2000, the Jubilee Year, a pedestrian walkway was demarcated and signs were installed on the path, which is now traveled by thousands of pilgrims.

Il centro storico di San Gimignano
La Via Francigena θ stata un elemento fondamentale per lo sviluppo economico e urbanistico di San Gimignano. Non a caso il centro storico si θ sviluppato da nord a sud lungo l'itinerario, su cui si affacciano la maggior parte degli edifici religiosi e civili piω importanti, e che attraversa le piazze del Duomo e della Cisterna.
Punto tappa della Francigena a San Gimignano sono l'Ufficio Urp in Baccanella, Ufficio Informazioni in Piazza Duomo e Museo Archeologico in Via Folgore. II Villaggio del Pellegrino, θ il luogo dedicato per l'ospitalitΰ della Francigena, si trova presso il Campeggio II Boschetto di Piemma.

The Historic Center of San Gimignano
Via Francigena was a significant part of the economic and urban development of San Gimignano. Consequentially, the historical city center has developed along the route from north
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to south, and the road is now overlooked by most of the important religious and civil buildings, and it crosses through Piazza Duomo and Piazza Cisterna.
Points of interest on Via Francigena on the way to San Gimignano include the Public Relations Office in Baccanella, the Information Office in Piazza Duomo, and the Archaeological Museum on Via Folgore. "Villagio del Pellegrino," located at "Il Boschetto di Piemma" Campground, is dedicated to accomodation on Via Francigena.

La Via Francigena da San Gimignano a Gambassi Terme
Si esce dal centro storico da Porta San Matteo, e si prosegue verso nord. E' d'obbligo una sosta alla Pieve di Cellole, prima di proseguire verso il Santuario di Pancole. Da qui si cammina prima su asfalto e poi su sterrato lungo un bellissimo tratto panoramico tra i vigneti, che dopo una ripida discesa sale gradualmente verso Gambassi Terme, dove la tappa si conclude presso l'antica pleve di Santa Maria a Chianni.

Via Francigena, from San Gimignano to Gambassi Terme
You leave from the historical center of San Gimignano from Porta San Matteo, and continue northward. Stopping at the church, "Pieve di Cellole" is a must, before heading toward to the "Santuario di Pancole." From here, you begin walking on asphalt which turns into a gravel road along a beautiful, scenic path between the vineyards. After a steep descent, the path inclines gradually towards Gambassi Terme, where this leg of the trail ends, in front of the ancient church, "Pieve di Santa Maria" in Chianni.

La Via Francigena da San Gimignano a Monteriggioni
Una delle tappe piω belle della Via Francigena: si esce da Porta San Giovanni, si prosegue sul marciapiedi fino a Santa Lucia e poi si affronta un lungo tratto in saliscendi che conduce verso la
Via Francigena Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 27, 2025
2. Via Francigena Marker
pieve di Badia a Coneo. Da qui si cammina tra boschi e campi coltivati verso Gracciano e poi Strove, con la sua bella Pieve romanica. Si raggiunge quindi l'antico complesso monumentale di Abbadia Isola, dove θ possibile pernottare, prima di affrontare un ultimo tratto pianeggiante prima dello strappo finale verso il castello di Monteriggioni.

Via Francigena, from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni
This is one of the most beautiful segments along Via Francigena: you leave from Porta San Giovanni, continue on the sidewalk up to Santa Lucia, and then you face a long stretch of ups and downs that leads to the church, "Pieve di Badia" in Coneo. From here, you walk through woods and fields towards Gracciano and then Strove, with its beautiful Romanesque church. You then reach the ancient historical complex of "Abbadia Isola," where you can stay overnight, before facing one last, flat path and the final stretch towards the Monteriggioni Castle.

Gli itinerari nei dintorni di San Gimignano
La Via Francigena θ l'asse portante di una vasta rete di percorsi a piedi e in bicicletta che consentono di esplorare il territorio di San Gimignano e ammirare da vari punti di vista la stupenda skyline del centro storico. I percorsi sono tracciati sulla mappa qui a destra. La mappa a sinistra illustra un itinerario di trekking urbano che conduce alla scoperta degli angoli nascosti del centro storico.

Routes around San Gimignano
Via Francigena is the cornerstone of an extensive network of walking and biking trails that allow you to explore the area of San Gimignano and to admire the magnificent skyline of the historical center from various viewpoints. The routes are outlined on the map to the right. The map on the left shows a walking tour through the city that brings you
Porta San Giovanni image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 27, 2025
3. Porta San Giovanni
The marker (blocked in this photo by the building on the right) is a short distance from the Gate of St. John leading into San Gimignano.
to all of the hidden corners of the historical center.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: EnvironmentReligion & Religious StructuresRoads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1994.
 
Location. 43° 27.879′ N, 11° 2.564′ E. Marker is in San Gimignano, Toscana (Tuscany), in Provincia di Siena. It is at the intersection of Via Bonda and Viale Roma (Route SP1) on Via Bonda. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Gimignano, Toscana 53037, Italy. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, the Schengen Area, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, the Roman Empire, and specifically the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Porta San Giovanni / Gate of Saint John (a few steps from this marker); Leone Chellini (within shouting distance of this marker); San Gimignano War Memorial (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Garibaldo Cepparelli (about 120 meters away); Chiesa di San Francesco / Church of Saint Francis (about 120 meters away); Olinto Ceccarelli (about 210 meters away); Adamo Borri (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Leopold II (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Gimignano.
 
Also see . . .  About the Via Francigena.
Excerpt: "To avoid Byzantine-held areas, it continued through Elsa Valley toward Siena, then across the valleys of Arbia and Orcia to Val di Paglia and Lazio, connecting to the ancient Via Cassia that led to Rome."
(Submitted on August 25, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.) 
 
Panoramic view of the countryside from the site of the marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 27, 2025
4. Panoramic view of the countryside from the site of the marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 25, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
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Jun. 6, 2026