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Is It Worth Taking a Day Trip to San Gimignano, Tuscany?

Is It Worth Taking a Day Trip to San Gimignano, Tuscany?
One thing that drove me nuts while in Italy was the lack of bacon and eggs. I learned very fast that the Italians aren’t big breakfast people and, often, the only thing I could turn to were pastries. However, while in Rome, I did get a complimentary breakfast of fried prosciutto and powdered scrambled eggs with very runny yogurt. Canadians know good bacon and wet/crunchy, hard prosciutto was not a satisfying alternative.

However, I have to admit, there were some pretty darn good treats and the best cappuccinos I ever had and this was especially the case while visiting the town of San Gimignano.

After a night out in Florence I needed a good breakfast to help me recover. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it anywhere near my hotel (which was not in the centre of Florence but a 10 Euro cab ride away). It was this day that I planned to go to San Gimignano and so we ventured off hoping to find some delicious alternatives in the medieval hill top town.

I wasn’t exactly ready to eat yet anyways so after a 45 minute drive we entered through the old protective city wall and immediately found an adorable cafe. The cappuccino was perfect, as usual for Italy, and the desserts were no bacon and eggs but they hit the spot nonetheless. My favourite was the tart filled with apples. After a night out in Florence I needed a good breakfast to help me recover.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it anywhere near my hotel (which was not in the centre of Florence but a 10 Euro cab ride away). It was this day that I planned to go to San Gimignano and so we ventured off hoping to find some delicious alternatives in the medieval hill top town. After a 45 minute drive we entered through the old protective city wall and immediately found an adorable cafe. The cappuccino was perfect, as usual for Italy, and the desserts were no bacon and eggs but they hit the spot nonetheless. My favourite was the tart filled with apples!

But wait, what made us trek 45 minutes just to have breakfast?
It wasn’t just the idea of breakfast, although complimentary hotel breakfasts in Italy haven’t been the most rousing meals in my life. Runny yogurt, powdered eggs and rock hard prosciutto fried like bacon is enough to keep me waiting until lunch.

No, it was my guide book. As a brand new traveler I bought all the DK Eyewitness guidebooks for each destination. This was before the time of YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram informing travelers the world over.
I took one look at the hilltop town of San Gimignano on the cover and I knew I just had to go. And it is convenient being a short drive or bus from Florence, one of the locations new travelers to Europe have on their list.

The towers, each erected by a prestigious family competing for glory all the while making the town even more gorgeous. Keeping up with the Jones’ has never been more pleasing to the eye.

The town itself is also surrounded by olive trees, vineyards and other charming Tuscan villages.

San Gimignano, is it worth a visit? I traveled from Florence to find out for a quick day trip before we were driven home before a hail storm.

But why is it worth traveling to?

Unless you enjoy wandering a gorgeous Italian city eagerly looking to practice your photography, you might not really have any other reason to go.

But nowadays, with Instagram and capturing our every journey with social media, what do we travel for? The escape of course but since the time of travel for pleasure was invented, since the time when young bachelors would venture on their European tours before settling down with a wife, we have always traveled for beauty in some aspect.

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Is it worth taking a day trip to San Gimignano? I ventured from Florence to San Gimignano for a sweet little day trip to the hill top town in Tuscany.

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About Murissa

Murissa is founder of FoodieTown.ca, producer and host of The Okanagan Food Show Podcast, video editor and co-creator of the Foodie Card.

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11 comments

  1. Ray Clifford says:
    February 11, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Hi MurissaYou are right about cappuccino and Italians seldom go wrong with it. it is not the only hallmark of everything Italian but a part of their entertainment culture. San Gimignano with its towers must have been a manhattan of its times.

    Reply
  2. Marivic says:
    August 10, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    nevermind the breakfast…but the coffee! I was never a coffee drinker until Italy. Lovely post.

    Reply
  3. activeman says:
    August 7, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    when, it comes to good food, there is no distance to far!! Great Blog

    Reply
  4. Murissa Maurice says:
    August 4, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    I agree Hannah! They may not have the heartiest breakfast food but they make up for it in lunch, dinner and dessert!
    Everyone warned me not to eat or drink in San Marco square as well but I recommend doing it at least once. At night my family and I shared a bottle of Champagne and they didn't charge us for the seats. It was a great experience!

    Reply
  5. Hannah {Culture Connoisseur} says:
    August 4, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Where Italy lacks in breakfast food, it makes up for it in scenery and romance. 🙂

    And yes, best cappuccinos in the world. And I don't care that they cost $100,000 if you want to enjoy it on the sidelines of St Marks…I'm drinking my coffee and enjoy the town no matter the cost! 🙂

    Lovely post.

    Reply
  6. Jules8 says:
    August 4, 2011 at 4:36 am

    I just did a post about one of my favorite Italian breakfasts too! It's fun to explore breakfast foods in different countries but maybe not with a hangover.

    Reply
  7. Murissa Maurice says:
    August 3, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    You're in the Charente region of France and much closer to Venice than I am in Canada. Much less costly as well! You should go even for a short while, it is well worth it.

    Thank you for all your lovely comments!

    Reply
  8. Food, Fun and Life in the Charente says:
    August 3, 2011 at 8:37 am

    My breakfast always consists of a banana and a glass of juice, so I don't miss egg and bacon though my husband would! Love your photos, I would like to see Venice but I am sure I will never get there 🙁 Diane

    Reply
  9. Colores says:
    August 3, 2011 at 8:19 am

    Bella Italia!!! beautiful pics!

    Reply
  10. High Heels & Good Meals! says:
    August 3, 2011 at 1:53 am

    Yeah I like my bacon and eggs too but a croissant with some good coffee will suit me just fine too! SOunds like an amazing time!

    Reply
  11. Ruth says:
    August 2, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    I think I could cope with just pastries if the coffees are that good! Love this post!

    Reply

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MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Hi! Murissa & Taryn here. We are sisters, foodies and founders, formerly The Wanderfull Traveler. Join us as we explore the Canadian food scene! Check out our YouTube foodie adventures and trusted restaurant recommendations here. We created the Foodie Card - coming to a Canadian city near you!

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