San Gimignano is one of Tuscany’s most famous towns. It is situated in central Tuscany, approximately an hour south of Florence. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990, it has 14 remaining towers that are instantly recognisable on Tuscany’s rural skyline. Many of these towers are to be found in the heart of San Gimignano’s Medieval centro storico in the Piazza della Cisterna and the Piazza del Duomo.
We have handpicked a collection of luxury holiday villas and family-friendly apartments close to the town. Whether you want a large villa with its own pool or a comfortable base within driving distance of Florence and Siena, we can help you find the right luxury villa for your holiday.
All these Tuscany villas and apartments are within a 30 km radius of San Gimignano.
EXCELLENT Based on 50 reviews Posted on Google Miki LeibowitzTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cassina Rossa in Forte Dei Marmi was a perfectly located villa to enjoy all things Forte & truly feel like a local! The communication with the owner and her representatives was so easy and they were VERY helpful with anything we needed during our stay. We so enjoyed waking up every morning and either taking our coffee intown while it was super quiet and watching everything wake up around us or on most mornings we rode the bikes that were supplied to us to the wonderful market that was literally down the street and picked up anything we needed fresh for the day. The kitchen was beautifully equipped and we made espresso most mornings and either sat outside on ground level patio or on the roof top overlooking the mountains. It was comfortable enough to have lunch and dinner at home a couple of times and fun setting a beautiful table with their pretty dishes, linens, etc. Having Bagno Vasco the very authentic classic beach club included was a dream and a big savings! Great food, easy location to bike or drive to and the position of our chairs, umbrella and sunbed right next to the sea was great. We were there for over 2 weeks and for a nominal amount he supplied us with their towels each day so we didn’t have to bring back and forth. The villa’s proximity to the center of town can’t be beat. It’s quiet enough to be a bit removed and beautiful to see the mountains whenever walking or riding home but so close to all the wonderful restaurants & very upscale & unique shops. Forte has such a unique vibe day and night especially on market days (Wednesday and Sunday). The markets are so full of clothing, housewares, etc that you’ll need to bring an extra bag or ship stuff home. People come from everywhere to take advantage of it. The location of Forte Dei Marmi is so central and close to other towns like Pietrasanta up in the hills which allows you to experience a completely different more typically Tuscan area within a short 15-20 min drive and it’s also very close to Lucca, Pisa & Carrara (where they get the marble) only 1 1/2 hours from Florence and Portofino if you are staying longer and want to take some wonderful daytrips. Forte Dei Marmi doesn’t have the dramatic coastline of the Amalfi coast but the beauty of looking one direction and seeing the beaches and looking the other and seeing the stunning mountains including Carrara is truly unique and offers its own special beauty. Another plus is that it is very flat so much easier than many Italian towns to walk and ride bikes which everyone does everywhere. It’s fun to see everyone (mostly Italians which we loved) fully dressed for dinner on bikes as it’s truly the chosen form of transportation for the young and old. We can’t wait to return!!Posted on Google Victor JohansenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo at Bookings for You is absolutely wonderful to work with. We have booked properties in Sorrento and Sicily over the past two years (2022 & 2024) and have not been disappointed. The properties were 1st class and just phenomenal. Jo lists only the best based on; location, amenities, condition & cleanliness. I highly recommend Bookings for You when planning & booking your stay in Italy; you won't be disappointed. First class service and first class properties!Posted on Google Jackie MorganTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service , prompt and efficient responses to enquiries . Villa was just what we wanted for a family holiday , and Fiona was a great asset ! ThanksPosted on Google JoyTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have just spent a fabulous week in Villa Speracedes booked with Bookings for You. Bookings for You provided excellent communication with us both prior to and during the trip to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible for us. The apartment was great: comfortable, very well equipped and the terrace was fabulous with a seating area for meal times, comfortable loungers to relax on and down the steps, loungers beside the pool. All having magnificent views across the valleys. Highly recommended!Posted on Google Rob AherneTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fabulous stay in Villa Assisi - a big villa with private pool in a hotel resort complex. It was very peaceful, despite a very central location, and the pool was a fantastic luxury given the super-hot temperatures. We were able to use the hotel facilities, such as the tennis court and bicycles, as well, so it felt like the best of both worlds. We were well looked after by Bookings for You too. Highly recommended.Posted on Google evan sohunTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An amazing place. Had such a great stay with my family and the hosts were so helpful all along. Thank you!Posted on Google Diane SafranTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The villa is Beautiful. The staff wonderful especially the chef and Benne. Daniela is a wonderful host. Our family had a wonderful time Thank youPosted on Google Ella JonesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! We had the most amazing holiday at Golfo Gabella on Lake Maggiore and will definitely be rebooking for next year 😊
Depending on what you want from your luxury holiday in San Gimignano, you can choose between staying right inside the ancient town walls or finding a luxury villa in the surrounding hills.
If you love waking up to the sound of church bells and walking down to the local café for morning coffee, staying inside the old town is a great choice. Properties like Apartment Marta put you right in the heart of San Gimignano, steps from the main squares and local restaurants. It means you can explore the town in the quiet mornings and evenings after the day-trippers have left.
Just a short drive outside the town walls, the landscape changes into rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves. Many of our apartments, such as Apartment Basilico, sit on beautiful countryside estates just five miles out. Staying here gives you wide views over the Volterra hills, large shared swimming pools, and plenty of space for children to play, while still keeping San Gimignano close by.
Our San Gimignano luxury villa collection is designed to make group travel easy, balancing shared fun with plenty of personal space.
We know that travelling with children means needing the right facilities to keep everyone happy. Several of our luxury holiday villas and apartments feature two distinct swimming pools, one quieter pool for adults and a second, larger pool specifically for families and children, often alongside a wooden play area. Inside, the properties offer modern comforts like air conditioning and reliable Wi-Fi.
If you are travelling with a large group of friends or an extended family, booking multiple apartments on the same estate is an ideal setup. Properties like our collection near Gambassi Terme let everyone have their own private kitchen and living space, while sharing large terraced lawns, barbecues, and swimming pools. It is a brilliant way to holiday together without feeling cooped up.
Of the 72 towers originally built in San Gimignano, only 14 actually remain today. And, of these fourteen, visitors are only able to climb one of them, the Torre Grossa in the Palazzo del Popolo. This is the town’s tallest tower, standing at 54 metres. It’s certainly worth making the effort to climb it while on your luxury holiday in San Gimignano. The incredible vista it enjoys over the Val d’Elsa stretches as far as the Apuan mountains.
Two more towers, the Torre Salvucci, are situated in the Piazza del Duomo. And a number of others are in the triangular-shaped Piazza della Cisterna. These include the Torre del Diavolo and the Torri Ardinghelli. The Casa Razzi and Palazzo Tortoli here also have the remains of towers. The most recent tower in San Gimignano – the Casa Campatelli – was constructed in the 18th century. All were originally fortified homes for rich families, each tower built to rival the one that came before it.
San Gimignano is also home to some excellent museums. These include the Museo Civico, which exhibits a superb collection of artworks dating from the 13th to the 17th centuries, including works by Filippino Lippi and Pinturicchio. Also of note are the rather gruesome Museo Storico della Tortura (Torture museum) and the Museo della Pena di Morte (Museum of the death penalty). There are plenty of other museums – the Santa Chiara museum is an archaeological museum and herbarium, whilst the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery holds a number of temporary art exhibitions.
Discover more ideas in our San Gimignano travel guide.
San Gimignano’s towers attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Built during the Middle Ages, they were seen as a symbol of power, wealth and status by merchant and noble families. These families competed among one another. Since they could not build outwards due to the restrictions posed by the town’s defensive walls, affluent residents instead built upwards. The taller the tower, the wealthier and more powerful a family was considered. Just fourteen of the original 72 towers are still standing today.
San Gimignano has plenty of car parks around its walls. Numbered from P1 through to P4, they offer nearly 800 spaces between them. However, hundreds of visitors pour through San Gimignano’s city gates each day and car parks quickly fill up. Unfortunately, without its own train station, public transportation is not an easy option either. But, for those keen to avoid the fight for a car parking space, you can take the train to nearby Poggibonsi and then catch the number 130 bus to San Gimignano. Alternatively, opt for a private driver to take you.
We would be delighted to help arrange a local tour for you to enjoy during your luxury holiday in San Gimignano. Our concierge service is complimentary for all guests staying in one of our luxury villa rentals. We’re proud to work with some amazing local guides and drivers who can create bespoke experiences for you to enjoy during your stay.