San Gimignano, Siena, Italy Jul 30, 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

Perfect, pastoral Palouse
The ‘eighth wonder’?
Jul 30, 2025Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 1, 2025Van Mahotsav
Oct 20, 2025Hoffmanns two-toed sloth, Ecuador
Mar 25, 2026Juvenile manatees, Crystal River, Florida, United States
Jan 31, 2026International Zebra Day
Apr 28, 2024Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Jan 25, 2025Porto, Portugal
Dec 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
Jan 10, 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
Apr 1, 2026The Great Stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Sep 16, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
Like paint on a canvas
Feb 20, 2025Red deer, Canada
Aug 16, 2024Roller coaster in Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Dec 7, 2024Orchha Fort complex, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
Bright blue lakes and rugged mountains
Dec 25, 2024Merry Christmas!
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore, California, United States
Sep 9, 2025A female Eurasian red squirrel, Switzerland
Trunks packed for road
Frosty Finland
Sep 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
A train journey to remember
Feb 6, 2024Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Night outside the museum
Jan 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Dec 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
A temple to treasure
Dec 21, 2025Winter solstice
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc – Detian Falls, Vietnam