Changes: San Gimignano

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San Gimignano is one of the many cities located in the Tuscan region of Italy, and was essentially a medieval fortress during the Renaissance. Numerous watch towers and monasteries, as well as tall towers that resembled skyscrapers, characterized 15th century San Gimignano.

History

Early development

Named after Saint Geminianus, who supposedly conjured up a dense fog to save the city of Modena from Attila the Hun, San Gimignano was founded in the 3rd Century. The city grew from the 10th Century onward as a stopping point along the pilgrimage route to Rome.^[1]

In 1199, once its citizens grew wealthy, San Gimignano separated from the bishops of Volterra and became self-governing. The city's distinctive towers were created as its wealthy citizens competed to display how much money was actually in their pockets. In its heyday, the city had 72 towers.^[1]

But the plague of 1348 decimated San Gimignano. Without money for upkeep, the town started to fall apart. The council appealed to Florence, and Florence took control.^[1]

Pazzi conspiracy

Templar meeting

In 1478, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze traveled to San Gimignano to spy on a clandestine Templar meeting and to kill Vieri de' Pazzi with the assistance of his uncle's mercenaries. Templar Grand Master Rodrigo Borgia, as well as Francesco de' Pazzi, Jacopo de' Pazzi, and Vieri de' Pazzi, were all-present, discussing the plot to end the Medici dynasty, and take control of Florence. Once the meeting had ended and all that remained was Vieri with his guards, Mario and his mercenaries attacked these guards in a large open courtyard. Meanwhile, Ezio climbed the ramparts overlooking the courtyard, and dueled with Vieri, eventually killing his longtime nemesis.

Hunting the co-conspirators

File:Conference.jpg

Vieri, Francesco and Jacopo de' Pazzi discussing their plans with a mysterious man.

After Ezio assassinated Vieri, he returned to Florence, where he met with Lorenzo de' Medici and acquired the identities of the remaining co-conspirators, two of which took refuge in San Gimignano.

Upon entering the city, Ezio met with one of Mario's mercenaries, who informed him that the monk, Antonio Maffei, has fortified himself atop one of the tallest towers in the city, surrounding himself with archers and guards alike, while he spouts scripture. Ezio made his way up the tower, assassinating guards and archers on his way up. He eventually assassinated the monk on top of the tower, slaying the first of the two co-conspirators within the city.

The second of Ezio's targets in San Gimignano was the banker, Bernardo Baroncelli, who escaped from prison and continued to remain hidden within the city. However, Ezio located Bernardo, who was roaming the city with a group of guards surrounding him. Bernardo continued his walk while attempting to reassure himself that the Assassin would not find him. Ezio still manages, however, to assassinate Bernardo, and escape his guards.

File:Jacobo that sword stab by the neck.jpg

Jacopo de' Pazzi being stabbed by Rodrigo Borgia.

After killing the co-conspirators and finding out the location of Jacopo de' Pazzi, Ezio traveled to Santa Maria Assunta, to tail Jacopo to a Templar meeting. Ezio followed him to the ruins of an ancient Roman theatre located just outside of San Gimignano. There, Jacopo met up with two other Templars, Emilio Barbarigo and Rodrigo Borgia, and the three discussed the failure of the plot to overthrow the Medici. Rodrigo blamed Jacopo for the failure of the operation, and stabbed Jacopo, leaving him to die.

Rodrigo then swiftly had his guards capture Ezio, who had been spying on their meeting. Rodrigo claimed he had planned for Ezio to follow, and then ordered his guards to kill Ezio, before leaving with Emilio. Ezio stabbed the two guards restraining him, and dispatched the remaining guards. After that, Ezio proceeded toward Jacopo's dying body, and put an end to his suffering. Ezio then left San Gimignano to return to Florence and inform Lorenzo of his success in the city.

Landmarks

Assassination targets

Vieri de' Pazzi; Nemesis of the Auditore family (DNA Sequence 3)
Bernardo Baroncelli; Banker (DNA Sequence 5)
Stefano da Bagnone; Advisor to Jacopo de' Pazzi (DNA Sequence 5)
Antonio Maffei; Priest (DNA Sequence 5)
Francesco Salviati; Archbishop of Pisa (DNA Sequence 5)
Jacopo de' Pazzi; Banker and head of the Pazzi family (DNA Sequence 5)

Trivia

San Gimignano is the only city where couples can be seen engaging in arguments.
Even after synchronizing all of the viewpoints in San Gimignano, a small area to the left in the middle of the map remains unsynchronized.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Assassin's Creed II

Gallery

[ac2-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Assassin's Creed II

[1]

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 '''San Gimignano''' is one of the many cities located in the [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] region of [[Italy]], and was essentially a medieval fortress during the [[Renaissance]]. Numerous watch towers and monasteries, as well as tall towers that resembled skyscrapers, characterized 15th century San Gimignano.
+==History==
-==Pazzi conspiracy==
-===Templar meeting===
+===Early development===
+Named after Saint Geminianus, who supposedly conjured up a dense fog to save the city of Modena from Attila the Hun, San Gimignano was founded in the 3rd Century. The city grew from the 10th Century onward as a stopping point along the pilgrimage route to Rome.<ref name="ac2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
+In 1199, once its citizens grew wealthy, San Gimignano separated from the bishops of Volterra and became self-governing. The city's distinctive towers were created as its wealthy citizens competed to display how much money was actually in their pockets. In its heyday, the city had 72 towers.<ref name="ac2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
+But the plague of 1348 decimated San Gimignano. Without money for upkeep, the town started to fall apart. The council appealed to Florence, and Florence took control.<ref name="ac2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
+===Pazzi conspiracy===
+====Templar meeting====
 In 1478, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] traveled to San Gimignano to spy on a clandestine [[Templars|Templar]] meeting and to kill [[Vieri de' Pazzi]] with the assistance of his [[Mario Auditore|uncle's]] [[mercenaries]]. Templar [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Rodrigo Borgia]], as well as [[Francesco de' Pazzi]], [[Jacopo de' Pazzi]], and Vieri de' Pazzi, were all-present, discussing the [[Pazzi Conspiracy|plot]] to end the [[House of Medici|Medici dynasty]], and take control of [[Florence]]. Once the meeting had ended and all that remained was Vieri with his [[guards]], Mario and his mercenaries attacked these guards in a large open courtyard. Meanwhile, Ezio climbed the ramparts overlooking the courtyard, and dueled with Vieri, eventually killing his longtime nemesis.
@@ Line 50: / Line 58: @@
 *[[Francesco Salviati]]; Archbishop of Pisa (DNA Sequence 5)
 *Jacopo de' Pazzi; Banker and head of the [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]] (DNA Sequence 5)
-==Database entry==
-''Named after Saint Geminianus, who supposedly conjured up a dense fog to save the city of Modena from Attila the Hun, San Gimignano was founded in the 3rd Century. The city grew from the 10th Century onward as a stopping point along the pilgrimage route to Rome.''
-''In 1199, once its citizens grew wealthy, San Gimignano separated from the bishops of Volterra and became self-governing. The city's distinctive towers were created as its wealthy citizens competed to display how much money was actually in their pockets. In its heyday, the city had 72 towers.''
-''But the plague of 1348 decimated San Gimignano. Without money for upkeep, the town started to fall apart. The council appealed to Florence, and Florence took control.''<ref name="ac2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
 ==Trivia==
@@ Line 66: / Line 67: @@
 ==Gallery==
 <center><gallery captionalign="left">
 File:Sangimignanoart.jpg|Concept art for San Gimignano.