Pistoia for your holiday: art, mountains and regional cuisine

Art and history in Pistoia

Pistoia combines a rich artistic and urban history with Apennine landscapes for your holiday. Fondazione Pistoia Musei operates four museum sites in the historic centre of Pistoia. In the Cathedral of San Zeno, you can admire the silver altar, regarded as one of the most significant works of Italian and European Gothic goldsmithery, as well as a relic of Saint James. The Chiesa di San Jacopo in Castellare preserves frescoes that trace the development of local painting from the 13th to the late 14th century. The Museo del Novecento e del Contemporaneo di Palazzo Fabroni houses the city's permanent collection of modern and contemporary art; the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions.

Below Pistoia, Pistoia Sotterranea presents the historic use of water as part of a guided archaeological tour. The tour extends for approximately 650 metres beneath the hospital. The preserved features include a Roman bridge, medieval washing places, an ancient city gate and two mills. The oldest of these mills dates from the 12th century. In the province of Pistoia, the Museo Ferrucciano di Gavinana also commemorates Francesco Ferrucci and the historic Battle of Gavinana of 1530.

Landscapes and trails in the Pistoia Apennines

The province of Pistoia comprises fifteen protected areas. Its varied landscape includes different habitats as well as a diverse range of animal and plant life. Padule di Fucecchio is designated as a wetland worthy of protection under the Ramsar Convention. The WWF-associated Oasi Dynamo nature reserve is also located in the same province and extends across more than 1,000 hectares of the Pistoia Apennines, reaching an elevation of 1,100 metres. In the immediate surroundings of Pistoia are Oltre, Palazzo Rospigliosi, Museo Civico Pistoia and Museo dell'Antico Ospedale Del Ceppo. The surrounding area also includes the mountains Monte Pozzo del Bagno, Parmolaio and Poggio di Valcapratica, as well as the Piazza d'Armi garden.

For hikes and trails focusing on cultural history, the 9-kilometre Sentiero della Ghiacciaia Ecomuseum trekking trail in the province of Pistoia connects Ghiacciaia della Madonnina with the Giardino dell’Energia Rinnovabile in Pontepetri. Five pilgrimage routes intersect in Pistoia and the Montagna Pistoiese, linking history, tradition and unspoilt landscapes.

Railways, mountain sports and regional excursions

The still-active Ferrovia Porrettana runs daily between Pistoia and Porretta. In the province of Pistoia, historic trains operated by the Porrettana Express run with vintage carriages, workshops, excursions and guided tours. For winter sports, the Doganaccia ski resort can be reached from Cutigliano by cable car in eight minutes. It has approximately 15 kilometres of slopes, three of which are illuminated for night skiing.

Cyclists can also enjoy a variety of landscapes. A mountain-bike circular route in Pistoia starts near the city centre at Piazza Oplà and climbs towards Germinaia and Iano, offering panoramic views of the city. Another circular route starting from Sammommè passes through areas of the Montagna Pistoiese with chestnut and beech forests. The regional cuisine complements these excursions: in the Montagna Pistoiese, Necci are thin flatbreads made from chestnut flour, traditionally rolled into a cannolo shape and filled with ricotta.

More places for your regional orientation

Montale, Piteglio, Chiesina Uzzanese, Ponte Buggianese, Sambuca Pistoiese, Stiappa, Pracchia, Larciano, Abetone, Buggiano, Cutigliano, Lamporecchio, Marliana, Agliana, Pianosinatico, Campo Tizzoro, Limestre, Lizzanello, Massa E Cozzile, Monsummano Terme, Montecatini Terme, Pescia, Pistoia, Quarrata, Serravalle Pistoiese, Uzzano, San Marcello Pistoiese, Pieve A Nievole, Castagno, Cecina and Panicagliora.

For the broader travel overview: Tuscany.