SAN GIMIGNANO, perched high on a hill, with a forest of fantastic towers between with run medieval streets; there are churches fully frescoed-the town is a work of art in itself. It has many fine palaces-Palazzo del Podesta, Palazzo Pratellesi the Towers of the Ardinghelli, Palazzo del Popolo; there is an unbelievable wealth of art-frescoes by Ghirlandaio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Taddeo di Bartolo, Barna da Siena; sculpture by Jacopo delta Quercia, Benedetto da Maiano etc. all in the Romanesque Collegiate Church. But perhaps the greatest delight is just to wander through these medieval streets, in the shadow of the towers, a sort of recapitulation of our journey which is ending.

From here it is 13 km (8 mi.) to Certaldo, Boccaccio's birthplace and San Casciano in Val di Pesa, on the way back to Florence through beautiful country (56 km. - 35 mi).