Marliana: Village Culture, Trails and Culinary Experiences

Marliana combines village history, sacred art, culinary traditions and special experiences for a variety of interests. The village of Marliana is grouped around the Church of San Niccolò. The Pieve of Marliana houses a polychrome terracotta statue of the Madonna and Child from the first half of the 16th century, attributed to the circle of the Buglioni. Here, the art of a specific place is connected with Marliana’s historic structure.

Serra Pistoiese and Furfalo

Serra Pistoiese is a medieval village of stone houses. It was built on a narrow, elongated mountain ridge with a central street and rows of houses on either side. Old mule tracks connect Serra with nearby places and make trekking tours possible. The Church of San Leonardo preserves medieval stone capitals depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The village layout, historic paths and religious artworks thus provide several specific points of connection between architecture, history and movement.

Furfalo also expands this historical framework. The ruins of the parish church of Furfalo are still visible in a forest between the village of Serra and the Nievole Valley. At the same time, the parish church of Furfalo is one of the oldest in the Pistoia area. The Museum of Peasant Culture is accessible to people with disabilities and open to all citizens.

Family Experience at Spider Park

Spider Park is located at Via Mammianese 719 in the municipality of Marliana. It has a practice course, three courses for children aged three and over, and four courses for teenagers and adults. There are 80 platforms in total. Access to Spider Park is free; those who use the courses pay for a two-hour activity. The age categories allow you to distinguish, when planning, between the offers for children aged three and over and those for teenagers and adults.

Marliana’s Culinary Character

Cuisine is also part of the local identity. The Passeggiata gastronomica notturna in Marliana is a nighttime culinary walk through the village’s medieval-style streets. At Senti come mi brace, steaks, sausages, chicken and Rosticciana are prepared every evening on a large open grill in the central square. Marliana also has a distinctive potato variety; olives and wine are cultivated at lower elevations. The culinary character thus ranges from an evening in the town center to regional products from different elevations.

A Specific Event Day

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the traditional CantarMaggio in Montagnana Pistoiese includes a procession with accordions and guitars, dancing, and food offered by local residents. If, alongside churches, villages and paths, you would also like to consider a specific event day, this festival combines music, dance and local cuisine.

Other Places for Orientation

Other places for orientation include Goraiolo, Rovaci, Avaglio, Momigno and Montagnana.

For the overarching travel overview: Pistoia.

More Destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Campo Tizzoro, Lamporecchio, Cecina.