Piastre: Ice History, Trails and Culture in the Pistoia Mountains

Piastre combines the history of natural ice production with ecclesiastical architectural history, distinctive fountains, and trails through the landscape of the Pistoia Mountains. For your holiday in Italy, the town therefore offers a range of points of interest: you can trace historical developments, explore a circular trail, or include museums in the surrounding area and nearby peaks in your plans.

History between the Road and Ice Production

Le Piastre was founded by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo during the construction of the road across the Apennines. A special gateway to regional history is provided by the Itinerario del Ghiaccio. It traces the history of natural ice production in the Pistoia Mountains from the end of the 18th century to the first decades of the 20th century.

Circular Trail, Fontana Campari and Ghiacciaia

The Itinerario del Ghiaccio can be walked independently or with a GAE environmental hiking guide. For another trail experience, there is La Valle del Ghiaccio: the circular trail begins and ends at Fontana Campari near the Le Piastre Pass on Via Modenese. Fontana Campari is also one of three surviving fountains from a series created around 1930.

The Ghiacciaia della Madonnina is another tangible testimony to this ice history. The structure has a conical, more precisely truncated-conical, shape and a thatched roof. Together with the name of the historic circular trail, it offers a vivid introduction to a subject that can be traced back over several centuries in the Pistoia Mountains.

Church, Festival Culture and Local Traditions

The parish church of Sant'Ilario in Le Piastre was built in 1785 from an earlier oratory. The present-day Church of Sant'Ilario dates in its design to the second half of the 19th century. A different cultural note is struck by the Campionato Italiano della Bugia, the Italian Lying Championship: it takes place every year in August in Le Piastre.

The traditional Sagra della Polenta Dolce is also part of Le Piastre's culinary festival culture. At the event on March 30, 2025, from 3 p.m., visitors could enjoy polenta dolce, necci, and sweet chestnut-flour fritters.

Museums and Peaks in the Surrounding Area

The Museo dell'Ospedale del Ceppo, the Museo dell'Antico Ospedale Del Ceppo, Palazzo Panciatichi, and Museo Civico Pistoia are located in the area around Piastre. These destinations supplement the local church and ice history with additional cultural points of interest, without reducing the town itself to a single theme.

Several peaks in the immediate vicinity of Piastre provide points of reference in the landscape: Poggiobello, Monte Bersano, le Piaggete, and Monte Tagliola. The area around Le Piastre is protected in cooperation with the Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese. When planning your visit, cultural interests, trails, and views of the surrounding mountain landscape therefore come together.

Piastre as a Base for Your Stay

If you are considering a hotel in Piastre for your stay, it is worth making your choice based on your interests. The ice history and the Itinerario del Ghiaccio favor a focus on the region's past and independent exploration; the Church of Sant'Ilario, the fountain, and the surrounding museums offer other cultural highlights. Those planning their stay with a stronger focus on the landscape can take the circular trails and nearby peaks into account. This allows you to match your hotel's location with your preferred travel rhythm and planned focus.

For further destinations to include in your travel plans, see Sarripoli, Cireglio, Ponte Nuovo, Piteccio, Bottegone, Santomato, Arcigliano and Pontelungo.

For the broader travel overview: Pistoia.