Looking for a compelling destination between Florence and Pisa? San Miniato is a town of about 29,000 people located in the province of Pisa in Tuscany. It lies at the confluence of the Egola and Elsa rivers and was a destination on the via Francigena. San Miniato is spread out deliciously upon several narrow ridgetops
San Miniato is accessible by train, but the train stops at the more modern San Miniato Basso. The stop is called San Miniato-Fucecchio. It's a short, local bus ride up the hill to the medieval center.
San Miniato is a very interesting destination, small enough to do a short walk-through but compelling enough to stay the night.
The medieval town is also very famous for its Truffle fair held on the last three weekends in November. Restaurants will offer many traditional dishes based around truffles.
Location Map of San Miniato
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Attractions in San Miniato
The Tourist Information Office is located in Piazza del Popolo and is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Monday from 9am to 1pm.
Federico II spent the years 1217 to 1221 having his builders build a tower in San Miniato and it has been the symbol of San Miniato ever since. It's called the Rocca, a defensive fortress built on a rocky pinnacle.
San Miniato's Duomo, dedicated to both Sant'Assunta and Santo Genesio, has an interesting 13th century facade. A plaque inside commemorates the citizens killed in the church in July of 1944; the movie The Night of The Shooting Stars commemorates this event, which was first thought to be a German bombing but was discovered to be an American bomb that hit the church accidentally, according to the trivia section of IMBd.
San Miniato's Civic Museum displays artifacts from the town's Roman and Etruscan settlements, including those from excavations of the 3rd-century B.C. necropolis at Fontevivo and the Roman villa at Antonini.
The museum system of San Miniato is quite incredible for a small town and is explained in detail on this page. Some of what it covers:
- The Conservatory of Santa Chiara
- The Via Angelica
- The Archconfraternity of Mercy
- The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art
- The Oratory of Lorentino
- The Rocca Federiciana
- The Academy of the Euteleti
San Miniato Events
San Miniato's big event is the white truffle festival called the Mostra Mercato di Tartufi held on the last three weekends of November. Read more about truffles and truffle fairs starting with San Miniato.
Where to Stay
Remember to reserve a hotel or Agriturismo well in advance if you're planning on attending one of the truffle festival weekends: San Miniato User-rated Hotels.
If you prefer an apartment or a rural vacation rental you can share with friends and family, you might prefer one of these San Miniato Vacation Rentals.
San Miniato has a hostel: Ostello San Miniato.
Where to Eat
For "Pizza e pesche" or pizza and fish, try La Smorfia on Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 150, in the lower town (the more modern town on the flatlands you encounter before heading up the ridge). A bit more ambitious is Papaveri e Papere on Via Dalmazia, 159.
Also in Pisa Province
If you visit Pisa, take a walk around and be sure to check out the Historic Ship Museum.
Calci - Hidden Tuscany - the impressive charterhouse of Pisa, or La Certosa Pisana di Calci can be visited, along with other attractions (and a nice, countryside walk).
More Italy Travel Planning Resources
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- Travel Planning Timeline: Learn what you need to plan when.
- What Will an Italy Vacation Cost?: Tools for budgeting your Italian vacation.
- Unplanned Attractions: Save time for the good life in Italy.
