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, 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:

Jan 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Nov 17, 2025Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Aug 23, 2025Greater flamingos, Camargue Regional Nature Park, France
Apr 13, 2025Wat Tang Sai Temple, Thailand
Dec 22, 2024Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States
May 27, 2024Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante, Italy
Feb 2, 2026Alpine marmots, Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Feb 24, 2024Almond trees in full bloom, California, USA
Feb 27, 2025Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Nov 10, 2023Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
Sep 27, 2023French River, Ontario, Canada
Apr 7, 2024North American beaver, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
Jun 4, 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eaters
Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada
Feb 25, 2025Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United States
Nov 30, 2025Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Apr 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Jan 29, 2025Prioro, Castile and León, Spain
Nov 5, 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
Apr 10, 2024Burrowing owl chicks, Wyoming, USA
Oct 17, 2025Rock River Falls, Michigan
Sep 20, 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Apr 21, 2025Joshua trees under the Milky Way, California, United States
Dec 4, 2023Cheetah and her cubs
Feb 7, 2026Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
Dec 23, 2024Two red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Dec 24, 2023Town Hall Square, Tartu, Estonia
Dec 3, 2025Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, United States
Sep 26, 2024Blue-throated toucanet, Costa Rica
Jan 10, 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada