art in the city

Just like a million other places in Italy, San Gimignano is known for its well-preserved medieval center full of narrow, winding streets, authentic boutiques, enotecas, and of course art and architecture. 14 medieval towers rise from various buildings within the town’s walls and statues, wells, frescos, and other pieces of medieval and Renaissance art dot the small village.

But San Gimignano has something I’ve rarely seen in Italy, let alone in a tiny town of just over 7,000. There are quite a few modern art pieces tastefully placed throughout the city.

This piece by Luciano Fabro (L’Italia all’asta) hangs off the side of theinner courtyard at the Palazzo Comunale or town hall. Another huge installation of a steel beam and metal sphere balances on the remains of the fortress walls. And most amazingly, this one is actually on the façade of the Chiesa di Sant’Agostino.


Nowhere else in Italy have I seen a town so openly embrace modern art. And blend it so well and beautifully, and a little discretely, among the rest of the ancient city. I have never heard of suspending a modern art piece on the outside walls of a courtyard filled with ancient frescos.

There is also a small modern art museum filled with local artist (who I’ve never heard of) but I really enjoyed it. Apparently the town of San Gimignano had quite a legacy with a few of these artists which in turn attracted their artist friends creating a decent collection. And this paved the way for modern installations placed around the city in 1994.

After all that I helped celebrate Carnevale with the bambini.