Galleria Continua

Top choice in San Gimignano

LoginSave

It may seem strange to highlight contemporary art in this medieval time capsule of a town, but there's good reason to do so. This is one of the best commercial art galleries in Europe, showing the work of big-name artists such as Ai Weiwei, Daniel Buren, Antony Gormley and Mona Hatoum. Spread over four venues (an old cinema, a medieval tower, a vaulted cellar and an apartment on Piazza della Cisterna), it's one of San Gimignano's most compelling attractions.

The former cinema functions as the main gallery and reception – ask the gallery assistants to take you to the other venues.

The gallery has also consulted on the installation of many contemporary site-specific artworks around town; go to the Art & Culture/Contemporary Art tab at www.sangimignano.com to access a handy map.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • June 26, 2018: Art inside the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) in the Historic Centre of Florence. 1369167782 ancient, architecture, arts, artwork, building, culture, decoration, europe, european, exhibit, exhibition, famous, firenze, florence, galleria, gallery, hall, heritage, historic, historical, history, indoor, inside, interior, italian, italy, landmark, landscape, medieval, monument, museum, palace, panoramic, people, picture, place, religion, renaissance, room, sculpture, sightseeing, statue, tour, tourism, tourist, travel, uffizi, view, visit, visitor

    Galleria degli Uffizi

    23.32 MILES

    Home to the world's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art, Florence's premier gallery occupies the vast U-shaped Palazzo degli Uffizi (1560–80),…

  • Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, one of the most important Gothic churches in Tuscany.

    Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

    23.53 MILES

    The striking green-and-white marble facade of 13th- to 15th-century Basilica di Santa Maria Novella fronts an entire monastical complex, comprising…

  • Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) is a medieval church, now dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, completed between 1215 and 1263, Siena, Italy; Shutterstock ID 1027666891; Your name (First / Last): Anna Tyler; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: destination-image-southern-europe

    Duomo

    17.66 MILES

    Consecrated on the former site of a Roman temple in 1179 and constructed over the 13th and 14th centuries, Siena's majestic duomo (cathedral) showcases…

  • Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy - stock photo Pictured is the Torre del Mangia and town hall building which also houses the Museo Civico

    Museo Civico

    17.78 MILES

    Entered via the Palazzo Pubblico's Cortile del Podestà (Courtyard of the Chief Magistrate), this wonderful museum showcases rooms richly frescoed by…

  • FLORENCE (FIRENZE), JULY 28, 2017 - view of Square of Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Tuscany, Italy; Shutterstock ID 793861060; purchase_order: 65050; job: poi; client: ; other: 793861060

    Palazzo Vecchio

    23.39 MILES

    This fortress palace, with its crenellations and 94m-high tower, was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio between 1298 and 1314 for the signoria (city government…

  • Museo di San Marco on the piazza di San Marco.

    Museo di San Marco

    23.99 MILES

    At the heart of Florence's university area sits Chiesa di San Marco and an adjoining 15th-century Dominican monastery where both gifted painter Fra'…

  • Italy Florence Santa Maria Del Fiore.

    Duomo

    23.63 MILES

    Florence's duomo is the city's most iconic landmark. Capped by Filippo Brunelleschi's red-tiled cupola, it's a staggering construction whose breathtaking…

  • MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 04: A statue is displayed during the opening exhibition of new Grande Museo del Duomo on November 4, 2013 in Milan, Italy.The opening of the new Grande Museo of Duomo in Palazzo Reale: 27 showrooms, 2000 square meters, 13 thematic areas where the most important treasures of Fabbrica del Duomo are preserved. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

    Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

    23.65 MILES

    This awe-inspiring story of how the duomo and its cupola came to life is told in this well-executed museum. Among its sacred and liturgical treasures are…

View more attractions

Nearby San Gimignano attractions

1. San Lorenzo in Ponte

0.03 MILES

The name of this 13th-century church refers to its original location next to a drawbridge (ponte means bridge) leading to the bishop's castle. The…

3. Palazzo Comunale

0.07 MILES

The 13th-century Palazzo Comunale has always been the centre of San Gimignano's local government; its magnificently frescoed Sala di Dante is where the…

4. Collegiata

0.09 MILES

Parts of San Gimignano's Romanesque cathedral were built in the second half of the 11th century, but its remarkably vivid frescoes, depicting episodes…

5. Museo d'Arte Sacra

0.09 MILES

Works of medieval religious art from San Gimignano's key churches are on display in this modest museum. Particularly beautiful items made from precious…

6. San Gimignano del 1300

0.1 MILES

Youngsters love this handmade ceramic re-creation of the medieval city, complete with houses, streets, towers and people as they would have looked in 1300…

7. Torre e Casa Campatelli

0.1 MILES

Protected and opened to the public by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), the Italian National Trust equivalent, this art- and antique-filled tower house…