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, the 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

Jul 30, 2025Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 13, 2024Saint-Pierre-Quiberon, France
Oct 9, 2023Fremont petroglyphs, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA
Aug 18, 2024Huntington Beach Pier, California, USA
Oct 18, 2023Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA
Apr 12, 2026International Space Station
Feb 7, 2026Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
Sep 5, 2025Santa Monica Pier
Mar 15, 2026Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver Island, Canada
Sep 17, 2023Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
Mar 13, 2024Lesser flamingos, Lake Magadi, Kenya
Dec 22, 2023Castlerigg Stone Circle, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Dec 7, 2025A pine forest in Alsace, France
Apr 11, 2026Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
May 13, 2025Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile
Mar 9, 2025St Marks Clock Tower, Venice, Italy
Sep 22, 2023Marsala salt pans, Italy
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettias
May 7, 2024Duckling in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
Sep 6, 2024Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
Jul 11, 2024Gangi, Sicily, Italy
Mar 6, 2026The Wave, Vejle, Denmark
Dec 10, 2025Castle of Rocca Calascio, Italy
Apr 10, 2026Two young red foxes at Karula National Park, Estonia
Jul 26, 2024Pont Neuf over the Seine, Paris, France
Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Feb 23, 2026Great white egret, Upper Bavaria, Germany
Apr 1, 2026Japanese tree frog in a pink morning glory
Dec 22, 2025Alte Brücke Bridge, Frankfurt, Germany
Oct 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Sep 21, 2025Sea otters, Alaska