For Those Looking to Shop in San Gimignano, there is Plenty to Buy Here:
Strings of perfumed soap
San Gimignano is not known as a shopping destination, but for those who love to shop, there are plenty of things you can buy here. In this town there are many shops selling handicraft such as ceramics and woodcraft, embroidery, leather bags, books and other souvenirs. There are also a few art galleries about town where you can buy a painting, or two, of your favourite Tuscan landscape.
San Gimignano is of course noted for its food and wine, and foodies and those who love to cook will have a great time shopping here.
San Gimignano Shopping
The southern end of town is the more commercial part of San Gimignano and if you stroll along Via San Giovanni, you’ll find a concentration of shops on this street. There are also shops scattered around town and on Via San Matteo at the northern precinct.
Ceramics
The Tuscan region has been the home of the craft of ceramics for centuries and in San Gimignano there are some beautiful hand-made ceramic works to tempt shoppers. Along Via San Giovanni there are a number of shops selling ceramic tableware, decorative plates, vases, hand-painted tiles and other pottery works.
Hand-painted ceramics
La Bottega at Via San Giovanni 108 and La Terracotta are two shops with a huge range of nice hand-painted pottery. Just a quick glance at the pottery in these shops and already I spotted a vase that I particularly liked from La Terracotta. Regrettably, I had to settle for something that would fit into my bag and so I bought a hand-painted tile with the quintessential Tuscan landscape painted on it.
Jute sacks
La Bottega di Beatrice e Paola at Via San Giovanni 77 may be of interest to those who enjoy the craft of weaving. They also sell embroidered table linen, aprons, etc.
An item that I regretted not buying are the small jute sacks with some embroidery on them. I saw them used in restaurants to serve bread rolls, which I thought looked really neat, but they can be used to store other things.
Leather bags
There are shops selling very colourful purses and handbags in town, although if you’ve come from Florence, you probably have already bought your share of leather.
Food Shopping
San Gimignano is a gastronomic destination and the shops along Via San Giovanni sell many of the Tuscan food products and Tuscan wines that make up Tuscan cuisine. For more information on Food and Wine in San Gimignano, see Here.
Other Things to Buy
The souvenir and gift shops sell anything from very realistic-looking soft toys, pinocchios, t-shirts, scented soaps, etc. And just in case you are in the market for furniture, there is also a very classy antique furniture shop in town.
See more photos of things to buy at Travelsignposts San Gimignano Shopping gallery Here.
For more about San Gimignano, see our San Gimignano Trip Planner Here.
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would love to know if I could buy these scented soap on ropes that I saw in San Gimignano. Is there a site ?
I was in San Gimignano in 2010 and at a little store purchased something that looked like a folded taco that you used to handle hot lids and handles while cooking. They were made of linen or cotton and am now lost as my last one is almost worn out. I want to get about a dozen of them. It seems to me it was a little store on a corner of the main street coming down from the church. any help yoy could give me locating these would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Sammye,
I do not recall seeing anything like what you’ve described, but maybe someone else reading your comment may be able to help.
Kind regards,
Helen
I was in San G and saw hand painted roof tiles,home now and would like help finding a shop that carries them . As I would like to have a few shipped home. Any help would be so appreciated. THX !
Hi Michelle,
We too were in San Gimignano a few weeks ago and we admired the very same painted roof tiles that you’re interested in. Unfortunately, due to the weight of the tiles, we didn’t buy any.
Along the main street into the town centre we saw many ceramic stores, but I don’t know any of them well enough to recommend a shop to you. I suggest that you contact the tourist information people at info@sangimignano. com and get some recommendations from them.
All the best with your ceramic hunt.
Kind regards,
Helen (sent from Italo fast train from Bologna to Roma)
Hi, I was wondering if you could help me!!
I was in San G last week, and I found a leather handbag in a store, that I wish I had purchased on the day!
I have looked online high and low and I can not find the name of the store to see if I can buy it online and have it sent to me!!
The store was in the main street on the left hand side, and it sold more up-market leather goods in the price range of about 150 euros. As soon as you walked in the store, it was quite modern looking and you had the option to walk downstairs to look at more products. They had many handbag styles that were the same but in differient colours.
If you could help me find the store I would be very appreciative!!
Tamara,
Could it be Maria’s Pelletterie that you visited?
http://www.mariasleather.com/english/marias-pelletterie.html
If not, I suggest that look for the shop in Google Earth. The link below takes you to via S. Giovanni and you’re facing in the direction to the main square (see the tall tower at the end). You can move the arrow up and down the street and look at the shops on the street.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@43.4651892,11.042668,3a,75y,352.46h,85.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEdZoaZhzSjfJqFDJGL-H1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I hope you find the shop you’re after. Moral of the story is: If you see something you like, buy it!
Kind regards,
Helen
I got a bracelet from a small jewelry store in San Gimignano. It was on the main street toward the end of the road on the left side and I would like to see if I can order more but I can’t find the name of the store. it was very unique jewelry painted silver and gold.
Hi Terry,
I suggest you look up via S Giovanni, San Gimignano in Google maps, blow it up and see if you can identify your shop. If it is a very small shop, it probably would not be listed, but at least this is a starting point.
Regards,
Helen
hello everyone!
We were in San Gimignano just this October. I so much wish I’d bought some colorful leather bracelets I saw. Can someone please help me with the name of the/a shop?
They had colored glass balls in the center. They were in the doorway of a shop. The lady mentioned
they are made in Murano (which I was later going to and thought I would buy them there but no!)
We only saw a glass blowing demonstration and some very expensive glass pieces we couldn’t afford.