San Gimignano, Siena, Italy Jul 30, 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

Perfect, pastoral Palouse
The ‘eighth wonder’?
Jul 30, 2025Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 13, 2025Quiver trees, Keetmanshoop, Namibia
Stars in daylight
Keep practicing, little guy
Aug 31, 2024Rocks and sand in the Sahara, Algeria
Jan 15, 2025Chital, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
A cuddling pair of Taiwan yuhina
Who’s the wisest of them all?
May 17, 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
Aug 18, 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
A rainbow that’s worth the rainfall
High above the Aegean Sea
What are these unique creatures?
Look, but don’t touch
When life imitates art
Hovering over harmonious horticulture
Mar 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China
Nov 22, 2025Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China
May the 4th be with you
May 12, 2025An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan
Celebrating the tropics
Sep 15, 2024Annas hummingbird, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Aug 30, 2025International Whale Shark Day
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
MPs most photographed big cat
The worlds most exclusive beach?
Apr 6, 2025Dolphins near Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal
Jan 23, 2024Maldives
Jan 22, 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Jun 9, 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
Oct 26, 2025Thick-billed raven, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia