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 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, 2025International Day of Friendship

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov. 10, 2025Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Apr. 3, 2025Rufous hummingbird
May 3, 2024The Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA
May 27, 2024Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
A pair of high achievers
Aug. 6, 2024Molokini crater, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Oct. 8, 2024World Octopus Day
Feb. 24, 2024Almond trees in full bloom, California
Jellies in a world of their own
Oct. 9, 2024Aspens near Marble, Colorado, USA
Apr. 22, 2024Earth Day
Jul. 24, 2024Cousins Day
A triumphant pose
Jun. 26, 2025Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia
Aug. 9, 2024International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Dec. 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
The sea pool of Penzance
Aug. 24, 2024Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine, USA
Beauty by the bay
Jul. 7, 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Aug. 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
A postcard-perfect landscape
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Jan. 7, 2024Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
Jan. 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Feb. 16, 2024Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb. 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
Sep. 6, 2025Rufous hummingbird
Pearl among the emeralds
Jan. 10, 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta