Gelateria Dondoli (Piazza della Cisterna)
The queue outside Gelateria Dondoli moves across the cobblestones of Piazza della Cisterna like a slow, purposeful procession. People hold their cups carefully, stepping aside to let others pass, negotiating the narrow space between the medieval well and the shop door. This is not an accident of tourism — it is the result of thirty years of a single family getting very good at one thing.
The flavours here are specific. Crema di Santa Fina is made with San Gimignano's own D.O.P. saffron and pine nuts. Champelmo folds local Vernaccia wine into pink grapefruit. These are not generic gelato parlour staples — they were invented here, in this square, by Sergio Dondoli.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to arrive early or late — before noon or after nine — to find the line shorter. The Champelmo is the one regulars mention first, sharp and wine-bright. If you're uncertain, ask for a taste before committing. The staff are used to it, and the cups are small enough that ordering two flavours is the obvious move.
The story behind Gelateria Dondoli (Piazza della Cisterna)
Sergio Dondoli opened the gelateria on April 8, 1992, in Piazza della Cisterna — his first cup sold was amarena, priced at 1,500 Italian Lire. But the story starts earlier. Dondoli had spent years in hospitality, running a pizzeria called Da Sergio from 1977 and working in France and Germany. It was in Germany, in 1984, that he first made gelato seriously. By 1992, he had left restaurants behind entirely.
In 2016, he became the only gelato maker in Italy to receive the MAM prize — Maestro d'Arte e Mestiere. He has won the Ice Cream World Championship twice and brought home two World Cup titles with Team Italy. His son Stefano, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens, now works alongside him, as does Sara Dondoli.
Good to know
The gelateria is open daily 9:00–23:30, with prices starting at €2.50. San Gimignano has no train station; reach it via Poggibonsi (bus #130, at least twice an hour until 11am). The Piazza Duomo bus stop is a one-minute walk. Queues look daunting but move fast.
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What travellers say about Gelateria Dondoli (Piazza della Cisterna)
The ice cream is absolutely delicious and definitely worth the wait! Even when there is a waiting line, the line moves surprisingly quickly. If you’re spending some time in town, it’s worth keeping an eye on how busy the gelateria is, as there are quieter moments during the day when the wait is much shorter. They offer some really creative and delicious flavor combinations. My personal favorite was Rosemary Baby (Berry) incredibly refreshing and perfect on a warm day. Highly recommended!
Whenever someone asks me what the best ice cream I’ve had is, my mind always goes back to the coconut gelato I had here two years ago (though I don’t usually say it since it’s pretty far from Southeast Asia haha). I don’t remember the queue being as long as it appears in some recent photos, but it moved quickly. It can feel a little rushed, so it’s worth deciding on your flavors before it’s your turn. I also had the mint, which was great, but the coconut was on another level. Dense, creamy, packed with natural coconut flavor, and just downright delicious. San Gimignano was one of my favorite memories from Italy, and Gelateria Dondoli was a big part of that.
If you’re in the area, I’d say it’s worth trying, but in my opinion it was a bit overhyped. I tried three flavors: * Venere Nera (blackberry & lavender): I only tasted blackberry. I couldn’t detect any lavender at all. * Rosemary Baby (raspberry & rosemary): This was similar- I only tasted raspberry and couldn’t pick up any rosemary. It may be that the fruit flavors are so strong that they overpower the herbs, but I was expecting more complexity. * Fiordilatte: This was easily my favorite. It was rich, creamy, and delicious. It’s a simple flavor, but they executed it really well. I’d definitely order this one again. The customer service was also a bit disappointing. The staff repeatedly told us to move forward while we were ordering, but there was a constant stream of people exiting the shop, so there simply wasn’t room to move without pushing through others. We were trying to be courteous and let people pass. By the fifth reminder, it felt unnecessary; we would have moved sooner if we actually could have. Overall, the gelato was okay, the fiordilatte being my favorite, but between the flavors not quite living up to their descriptions and the less-than-welcoming service, it didn’t live up to the hype for me.
Class spot. Amazing experience, not just the gelato but the whole setting is special. Super flavours and something like organised chaos in the shop but the staff are so well used to processing large numbers of customers it added to the fun. We tasted about 7 different flavours and all were great. The mint was made with actual mint leaves in there! Belissmo!
Great award-winning gelato! We came here based on recommendations for this award-winning gelateria. The gelato is light, airy, and wonderful - not too sweet. I had the pistachio and the saffron vanilla flavors. There was a really long line, but it moves fast because there are many counters inside. Overall, an excellent stop if you are craving gelato!
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