San Gimignano, Siena, Italy 4 Aug 2024

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 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

A cantilevered window to the past
Pastel perfection
4 Aug 2025Great grey owls in their nest, Finland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

14 Aug 2024World Lizard Day
22 Oct 2024Palazzo Zuccari, Rome
1 Apr 2025Tree frog
28 Jun 2024Stonewall uprising anniversary
A record-breaking reign
Gravity-defying wonders of the world
Big Bends birthday bash
12 Oct 2023Palouse region, Idaho, USA
Rising with the sun
25 Aug 2024Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
1 Mar 2025Saint Davids Day
Come on, guys, this way!
A time-worn mediaeval marvel
16 Jun 2025World Sea Turtle Day
12 Mar 2024Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
27 Dec 2024Lake Bled, Slovenia
Tomb of the Golden Pharaoh
22 Mar 2025Happy World Water Day!
Bring the king cakes
18 Dec 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
11 Nov 2025Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
A peck between penguins
15 Sep 2025Point Reyes National Seashore, California, United States
A world within a world
7 Mar 2024Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
Blood moon
Doves of peace
8 Oct 2023World Octopus Day
Wise guys
10 Sep 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal