San Gimignano, Siena, Italy 4 Aug 2024

San Gimignano, Siena, Italy

These medieval towers stand tall over San Gimignano, a small town near Siena in north central Italy. In the Middle Ages, a town grew up around a church dedicated to Saint Geminianus—San Gimignano in Italian. As well as being a popular stop for pilgrims on their way to Rome, the town prospered thanks to its trade in local Vernaccia wine and in saffron, which is grown in the nearby hills. However, when the Black Death struck in 1348, half the population was lost, slowing the town"s development and preserving its medieval character to this day.

© MNStudio/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

A cantilevered window to the past
Pastel perfection
4 Aug 2025Great grey owls in their nest, Finland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

When art imitates life
Stealthy pollinators
1 Oct 2023Lake Bled, Slovenia
History awaits atop the hill
29 Apr 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
29 Dec 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
International Nurses Day
Nap your worries away
Heavenly hot springs
Whos snoozing?
6 Jun 202581st anniversary of D-Day
16 Nov 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
10 Jan 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
16 Aug 2025The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
Picture perfect
Strong sibling bonds
19 Apr 2024Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
The grass looks greener on this side
A window to the Pacific
16 Dec 2024Salzburg, Austria
22 Mar 2024World Water Day
A prehistoric pavement
An iridescent view
24 Apr 2024The white trilliums in Ontario, Canada
Sep 10, 2023Grandparents Day
All is calm
Where can you find this cute creature?
A day for the worlds Indigenous populations
16 Jan 2024Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Charming Turenne