Shopping & Parking

Shopping for foodstuffs, especially for cured meats or truffles, is an enticing activity. The white truffle season runs from mid-September to Christmas but peaks in November. These famed white truffles can be bought at the November truffle fair and market, with a black truffle festival held in the summer.

Set in San Miniato in Basso (the Lower Town), this well-stocked supermarket includes butchery and bakery sections.



Address: Via Ferrante Aporti 10-12, 56028 San Miniato
Tel: +39 571 403499
http://www.coopfirenze.it/punti-vendita/san-miniato-

Located in Corrazzano, outside San Miniato, these family-run truffle suppliers provide an entrée into the secret world of truffle hunting. Come for a wide range of truffle produce, including truffle oils. Visit them before having lunch in La Taverna dell’Ozio.


Address: Via Zara 110, Localita Corrazzano, 56024 San Miniato
Tel: +39 571 462846 
www.tartufi-nacci.com

The quirky San Miniato gift shop specialises in one-off pieces made from glass bottles, including recycled glass. The results can be ornamental objets d’art, colourful knick-knacks or jewellery.


Address: Via Augusto Conti 30, 56028 San Miniato
Tel: (+39) 571 961356  & (+39) 348 2921516

Bear in mind that San Miniato is a town of two halves: San Miniato in Basso, the Lower Town, and arrival point; and San Miniato (also known as San Miniato in Alto). This, the Upper Town, holds the greatest concentration of attractions.  Parking is generally ample, with a paying car park at the top of the hill, convenient for the Upper Town. If arriving by train, note that a free bus regularly connects the railway station (in San Miniato in Basso) with San Miniato in Alto.

Most Tuscan towns operate a strict ZTL system, a Limited Traffic Zone. This means that the Centro Storico (historic centre) is essentially closed to traffic, particularly for non-residents. Cars will need to be left outside the walls. Advice on ZTLs: You may see other cars crossing the ZTL boundary (Limited Traffic Zone) and assume you can proceed. Not so. The drivers crossing into the ZTL zone will probably be locals and have residents’ permits. Visitors do not so are liable to fines. Zones are monitored by cameras, so tickets are issued immediately and automatically, as soon as (and each time) the car crosses the ZTL boundary. For more, see www.comune.san-miniato.pi.it

Getting there & getting around:

By car: You will probably be arriving along the Firenze-Pisa-Livorno road (often dubbed the FI-PI-LI). If so, take the San Miniato exit. Follow signs for San Miniato in Alto, which first leads to San Miniato in Basso, the Lower Town.

By train: San Miniato station is in San Miniato Basso, the Lower Town. You can also arrive by train, leaving Firenze Rifredi or Pisa Central, get off at San Miniato-Fucecchio and then catch the local bus which will take you to the hilltop, a rather steep walk. San Miniato is on the line to Prato (a 15-minute journey); Florence (a 45-minute journey); Lucca (around an hour); and Pisa (around two hours).