In the first moment you enter the city you realize that it belongs to Cittaslow (Slow Movement), which goals include improving the quality of life in towns while resisting the fast-lane, homogenized world so often seen in other cities throughout the world. San Miniato used to carry the additional sobriquet al Tedesco ("of the Germans") due to Frederick Barbarossa the former Holy Roman Emperor who further fortified with expanded walls and other defensive works, including the Rocca and its tower to make it the center of finance in Tuscany.

San Miniato is in the middle between Florence and Livorno, not even 1 hour drive from each city. It is a fantastically, typical Italian little city, up on a hill, very lively and very open to any guest staying here. Very interesting is that, besides the German influence, it is the home of the Bonaparte family and there is a market held on yearly base called Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco di San Miniato where you can by the white gold, the white truffles (Tuber magnatum Pico) from the region. In 1954 a record-breaking truffle found weighed in at 2,520 grams and was sent to the United States of America as a gift for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

To stay in San Miniato we highly recommend the Hotel San Miniato, www.hotelsanminiato.com.   Renovated in 2010 and reopened as Design hotel with a breathtaking value for money! The rooms are absolutely fine, no luxury hotel, but totally clean and up to standard. Additionally you find a historical congress facility which is absolutely charming and is set beautifully within the hotel facilities.
In five minutes walking distance from the hotel you find the Pizzeria Osteria Vecchio Cinema in the Via Ser Ridolfo where you can find a very nice offer on homemade Pizza and typical Tuscany/Italian dishes, again for good value for money. First was serves a Beef Carpaccio, followed by a octopus salad and finalized by a Crema Catalana. All was absolutely delicious; not necessary to always focus on truffles and fine dining in the region.

You can find some photos here, here and here
and some recipes here, here and here.