Torre Grossa and Piazza della Cisterna, San Gimignano

San Gimignano is a small medieval hill town in Tuscany, famous for its skyline of stone towers, built by rival families as status symbols; 14 of the original 72 still stand. Climb the Torre Grossa, the tallest at 54 m, inside the Palazzo Comunale, for a 360-degree view over the towers and the Tuscan countryside. The ticket includes the civic museum and art gallery, with medieval frescoes.

The triangular Piazza della Cisterna, with its old well, is the heart of town. Gelateria Dondoli on the square has won world gelato championships; try the Vernaccia sorbet, made with the town's white wine. The streets get very crowded with day-trippers at midday; stay overnight or come late in the afternoon. It's easy to reach by bus from Florence or Siena (change at Poggibonsi), and you can do both towns in a day.