San Gimignano rises on a hill, dominating the Elsa Valley with its medieval towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village, the town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages, thanks to the "Via Francigena" trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. This great period of prosperity led to the flourishing of works of art to adorn its churches and monasteries.

Due to internal power struggles the city eventually divided into two factions, one headed by the Guelphs and the other Ghibellines. In 1300, Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the Ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany.

The construction of the towers in San Gimignano dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries. You will visit the People's Palace or new Podesta's Palace, and its Dante rooms. It is one of the most important monuments of the city, being both the home to the Civic Museum and paintings by the Florentine and Sienese schools (from the 13th century), such as the Crucifix by Coppo di Marcovaldo, the Triptyches by Niccolò Tegliacci and Taddeo di Bartolo dating from the 14th century, and other important works of art dating from the 15th century by Domenico Michelino, Pinturicchio, and Filippino Lippi.

In the different rooms of the Palace, you can find various frescoes on the walls, such as the "Scenes of Private Life" by Memmo di Filippuccio and "The Maestà" by Lippo Memmi. On the right hand side of the Palace rises the high "Great Tower", erected in 1300. On the balcony above the entrance, the Podestas (persons responsible for the Municipality) took their oaths. In front of the Palace and the Tower, a ballatoio (stairs leading to and from a narrow terrace) called l'Arengo can be admired.