Where to eat in San Gimignano: Vernaccia, saffron and cinta senese

San Gimignano has one product that sets it apart across Tuscany: Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the white wine that in 1966 became the first in Italy to receive Denominazione di Origine Controllata status. The wine bars and venues around the Rocca di Montestaffoli, home to the documentation and tasting centre dedicated to the wine, are the reference point for trying it alongside local dishes.

Less well known but just as distinctive is San Gimignano saffron, one of the city-state's most sought-after exports in the Middle Ages. On the menu, as elsewhere in Tuscany, wild boar, cinta senese pork, extra-virgin olive oil and Tuscan cured meats are all common. The side streets away from Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza del Duomo, less crowded than the main visitor flow, are often the best way to find a genuine meal without the centre's queues.