It looks like a non-touristy Italian heartland.
San Gimignano is a tiny medieval town located in the heart of Tuscany. It is so small that not even has a direct transport connection to Florence — you can get here exclusively with the transplant. And all anything — not that any of Europe’s historic towns — if not for one thing: in San Gimignano miraculously preserved ancient clan castles of XIII-XIV centuries, through which he became known far beyond the borders of Tuscany.
In the old days, when Italy was torn by wars and feudal strife, such fortifications were found in many of its cities — every self-respecting family tried to provide for themselves well-fortified city residence. Quieter to live, if there is a tower in which to hide in case of attack, and rush into the enemy various deadly objects from a height of several tens of meters. On the other hand this residence was yelling at everyone about the wealth and influence to build her family. Such a kind of medieval show-off: the higher the better.
The last century, in the Apennines was established some semblance of stability and order, and towers across the country, steel first, just to shorten it, and then completely demolished. Until survived only a few copies — you can find them in different cities of Italy from Lucca to Bologna. But only in the San Gimignano medieval towers preserved as much as fourteen (fifteen, if you count the bell tower of the local Cathedral). Today it is the largest collection of such buildings in Europe.
