San Gimignano, Italy

Black and White pictures by QT Luong

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"San Gimignano delle belle Torri" is situated in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims on the Via Francigena to and from Rome. The patrician families, who controlled the city, built some 72 tower-houses (up to 50m high) as symbols of their wealth and power. Only 13 have survived, contributing to a unique skyline visible from a distance, but San Gimignano has retained its feudal atmosphere and appearance. The small medieval town, enclosed in walls, is quite rich in works of arts (masterpieces of 14th and 15th-century Italian art), restaurants, and produce shops. The historic center of San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. also contains masterpieces of 14th and 15th-century Italian art,

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