Feast of the Patron Saint San Geminiano

A festival that links three cities

The Feast of the Patron Saint San Geminiano is the most cherished annual event in San Gimignano, the famous medieval town of towers in the province of Siena, Tuscany. Every year on January 31st, the city pays homage to its protector with a day of solemn celebrations that weave together faith, history, and civic identity. The unique aspect of this festival is the profound bond that unites San Gimignano with two other Italian cities, Modena and Pontremoli, all joined by their devotion to the same saint.

Who was San Geminiano

San Geminiano was the Bishop of Modena in the 4th century and passed away on January 31st. According to tradition, his intercession saved the Tuscan town from barbarian invasions; for this reason, the town took the name San Gimignano and elected him as its patron. Today, the saint is venerated simultaneously by all three communities, which exchange official delegations every January 31st as a sign of ancient friendship and brotherhood.

The day of celebrations

The festival begins in the morning with Holy Mass in the Cathedral of San Gimignano, while the mayor travels to Modena to participate in the ceremony at the local cathedral; a council member also represents the administration at the celebrations in Pontremoli. In the late afternoon, the city welcomes delegations from Modena and Pontremoli in the Sala di Dante, inside the Town Hall, along with civil and military authorities and local associations.

The highlight is the solemn Eucharistic concelebration in the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, attended by the banners of the three municipalities, the confraternities, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The ceremony, accompanied by the Corale Sangimignanese choir, concludes with the traditional blessing of the city imparted with the venerated relic of San Geminiano.

The fair in the historic center

Throughout the day, the town's two monumental squares, Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Cisterna, host the traditional fair, with stalls and vendors enlivening the medieval heart of San Gimignano. It is the perfect opportunity to experience this UNESCO World Heritage town on one of its most authentic days, far from the summer mass tourism and immersed in the winter atmosphere of the Val d'Elsa.

Why experience it

• A festival of identity that tells the story and roots of San Gimignano
• The celebrations in the splendid frescoed Collegiate Church, a jewel of Tuscan art
• The ritual of spiritual twinning between San Gimignano, Modena, and Pontremoli
• The fair that fills the squares of the town of towers with life