After reading these posts I have to put in my two cents. I would definitely go to Siena. My husband and I were in Italy last year, and the difference between San G and Siena is like night and day. I totally agree with Amanda. San G is a gross tourist trap, with crowds to match. As an Italian in Chianti told us, &quot;San G has sold out, but Siena has kept its soul&quot;.<BR>We did San G and Siena in one day, which is completely do-able, but I live for the day when I can go back to Siena to stay for a while. The duomo there is incredible, by the way, and the shops are first class. Almost everything I bought in Florence was cheaper in Siena, and the shops are beautiful---not tacky like in San G. I will never forget the crap in the tourist shops in San G, with potpourri and tote bags that said things like &quot;Happiness is being a grandma&quot;. The worst of the tourist crap you would find in the U.S. Go to Siena!

We love to stay at San G. and have stayed there for two or three days on four different trips. We use it as a base for Tuscany and during the day we go to Volterra and various other hill towns. We stay at La Cisterna which has to be one of our favorite hotels in Europe.<BR><BR>We have found beautiful and inexpensive things to buy at the shops there-especially alabaster, Della Robbia, linen, gelato, and wine. Of course, you do have to be a discriminating shopper as you do any where.<BR><BR>We have also stayed in Sienna and found it to be some what frustrating. We got totally lost trying to get to the center of the old town, plus the credit card machine there ate my card! Actually we went to Sienna after spending some days in Venice and in Florence, and I guess we were not in the mood for another city, so we spent most of the time there going for day trips into the Tuscan countryside. Of course, the Sienna Duomo is lovely- especially the library ? beside it and the piazza and the city hall are very interesting. <BR><BR>However, we really love San G. and find it very relaxing.It is like Venice in that you can just go away from the congested tourist area,(basicly two streets) and walk in the parts that are not crowded. The views from our hotel and from the city walls are some of our favorite anywhere.<BR><BR>We also try to spend a night or two in a villa outside of San G.- especially at a vineyard where they serve dinner and their own wine- some of the best food I have ever had in Italy!

I'll only repeat what I've said for years, and has already been repeated here. If and when you go to San Gimignano, stay for a night or two or more. The magic of the place is best in the early morning or late evening, before or after the crowds. Use it as a base, but leave during the bulk of the day to go explore other places.