Street art in Pistoia and the Pistoia Mountains

Anyone strolling through the streets of Pistoia can’t help but notice its ancient medieval charm, still alive in every corner of the city. The striped churches in green and white, with their unique architecture and intricate details, tell stories of centuries of history and tradition, while major city landmarks, such as the Palazzo Comunale and the majestic Palazzo dei Vescovi, stand as witnesses to a distant past.

However, among the streets and narrow alleys, some street artists have reinterpreted the city with a contemporary touch, enriching it with new expressive forms through innovative techniques and a personal style. Murals, stencils, and posters blend with ancient architecture and historical monuments, creating a fascinating contrast that reflects the meeting of tradition and modernity.

These urban artworks offer passersby an immersive art experience, guiding them on a journey that weaves together medieval and contemporary elements.

Not only has the city been enriched over time by these works, but the Montagna Pistoiese also offers examples of urban art that intertwine with local history and tradition, created by various street artists, both local and from outside the area.

By its very nature, these works, especially those created spontaneously by the artists, are ephemeral, characterized by a short and dynamic life. Under the gaze of passersby and residents, the city is constantly transforming: new works emerge and disappear, turning each visit into an exciting treasure hunt, where attentive and curious eyes can catch the wonders hidden among the streets.

Some key figures in street art in Pistoia and the Montagna Pistoiese:

Millo – No Hesitation

Francesco Camillo Giorgino, known as Millo, is an internationally renowned street artist, winner of numerous awards and festivals, and creator of murals across the globe.

In 2018, Millo created No Hesitation, a large mural depicting two oversized figures within a metropolitan cityscape with skyscrapers, streets, and airplanes. By inserting a key into a lock located at heart level, the two figures are engaged in opening each other’s wooden armor. The artwork invites viewers to dismantle their own structures to open up to others. It was commissioned by the Spichisi Cultural Association as part of the Giardino di Cino project, aimed at the urban redevelopment of the eponymous area.

Daniele Capecchi – Kobe Bryant

A large mural by artist Daniele Capecchi adorns one of the outer walls of the Vitaliano Masotti municipal gymnasium, located in the Monteoliveto park in Pistoia. The artwork depicts Kobe Bryant, the famous basketball player who spent part of his childhood in Cireglio, a village in the Apennines just above Pistoia, tragically passing away in January 2020.

Taking advantage of the irregularity of the wall surface, Capecchi added volume to the painting, using a range of grays to represent the former Los Angeles Lakers star, along with his symbolic animal: the black mamba.

Blub – L’arte sa nuotare

In the alleys of downtown Pistoia, you may come across famous masterpieces from art history reinterpreted with an ironic twist. These are works from the L’arte sa nuotare series by the street artist Blub, whose identity remains unknown.

One of the artist’s distinctive features is painting exclusively on movable wall surfaces, such as covers for water or electricity meters. In this way, anonymous, gray elements—often subject to vandalism—are transformed, taking on a new appearance that immediately captures the attention of passersby. Because art can be found anywhere, even on a gas meter cover.

LDB – The Gentle Street Artist

Pistoia-based street artist LDB is certainly one of the most easily recognizable personalities on the walls of this Tuscan city. The artist primarily creates black monochromes using stencil art techniques to convey both serious and ironic messages, often entrusted to children.

In Maresca, on the Montagna Pistoiese, two of his works are currently on display, commissioned by the Convivio Odv Association as part of the La Montagna a Fumetti initiative. The first, created in 2021, depicts a little girl gazing upwards at flying bees; the second, from the following year, shows a boy playing with a toy train, referencing the historic F.A.P. (Ferrovia Alto Pistoiese), which until 1965 connected the mountain, passing through Maresca.

Each of LDB’s works is unique, designed specifically for the context in which it is placed. This sensitivity and attention to detail have earned him the title of the gentle street artist.

Exit Enter – Omini

On the walls of Pistoia, you can spot stylized little figures engaged in small, lyrical adventures. These are the omini (little men) of Exit Enter, figures that animate and interpret the walls, enhancing their unique shapes.

Today, Exit Enter is an independent artist who experiments with painting mediums and expressive languages, both on the streets and in the studio, in a fruitful exchange of stylistic and formal influences: the adventurous little man often ventures into studio spaces, just as the techniques the artist experiments with on the street are reinterpreted on canvas.

Over time, the omini, though most numerous in Florence, have appeared on the walls of many cities, both in Italy and abroad, such as Lisbon, Brussels, Valencia, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Venice, Naples, Rome, Bologna, and, of course, Pistoia.

Lizzano Pistoiese – The Village of Murals

The village of Lizzano, located in the municipality of San Marcello Piteglio on the Montagna Pistoiese, offers more than just its forests and local products—it also surprises with its artistic heritage. In fact, the village is home to around 30 murals created over the years by numerous artists using various techniques.

The themes addressed in the murals are diverse, ranging from events related to Lizzano during World War II to elements intrinsic to the Montagna Pistoiese, such as its fauna, flora, and peasant traditions.

Discover the charm of Pistoia’s iconic striped churches, on a journey to explore the city’s ancient past.