Discover

Policarpo Petrocchi Literary Park

Art garden

The 'Parco Letterario Policarpo Petrocchi' – the Policarpo Petrocchi Literary Park – commemorates Policarpo Petrocchi, a famous writer and lexicographer, born right in Castello di Cireglio.

Jorio Vivarelli Foundation

Museums

A centre for the value appreciation and conservation of Maestro Jorio Vivarelli's works of art, the Foundation is a point of reference for Pistoia's 20th century art scene

Guided tours by appointment

The Saint Zeno Cathedral Bell Tower

Monuments

The Saint Zeno Cathedral Bell Tower stands sixty-six metres high up in the sky. A truly unforgettable experience is to climb up to the top from where you can admire a wonderful panoramic view over the whole city.

The Ecomuseum of the Pistoia Mountains

Museums

A gentle journey, across six different itineraries, to discover mementos and traditions which tell the tale of centuries of history and of the work of man in the Pistoia Apennines.

S.M.I. Museums and Shelters

Museums

A symbol of the history and economy of the Pistoia Mountains. Europe's largest air raid shelter which twists and turns for more than 2 km.

Closed

Naturalistic Archeological Museum of the Pistoia Apennines (MuNAP)

Museums

A journey to discover the natural history and the presence of man during prehistoric times in the Pistoia Apennines. It is a part of the Nature tinerary of the Ecomuseo della Montagna Pisstoiese.

From June to September

Historic Steam Engines Deposit

Porrettana Railway

The Historic Steam Engines Deposit is one of the oldest railway infrastructures in Italy and is also an important centre for the Fondazione FS Italiane for the repairing of steam engines.

Visite guidate da metà marzo

Church of San Leone

Churches

A true jewel of 18th century Pistoia art, brought back to its original glory by a recent restoration. It now holds temporary exhibitions.

Former Church of the Tau

Churches

The church is dedicated to Sant’Antonio Abate who is usually depicted holding a T (tau)-shaped walking stick and a little pig at his feet.

San Desiderio oratory

Monuments

The building appears as a bare, rectangular prayer hall with a gabled roof, and it houses a 16th century fresco by Sebastiano Vini.

Monumental Santa Barbara Fortress complex

Monuments

The history of the fortress is linked to the events of Pistoia's Risorgimento (the period leading towards the unification of Italy) and stores graffiti, writings and drawings in black charcoal and bright red chalk, made by patriotic prisoners.

San Giovanni in corte baptistery

Monuments

It is one of Pistoia's undisputed symbols as well as being one of the monuments which render the Cathedral Square truly unique. It is also considered to be one of the finest examples of Tuscan Gothic art.

The Doganaccia skiing area

Skiing areas

Standing on the Croce Arcana slopes in the Pistoia Mountains, the Doganaccia skiing area has 15 km of downhill slopes, with pistes for both alpine and cross-country skiing.

Abetone Val di Luce skiing area

Skiing areas

Standing right on the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, the Abetone Val di Luce area has 50 km of downhill slopes and 17 installations including ski lifts, ski tows, cable cars and treadmills.

SpiderPark Adventure Park

Theme parks

Seven routes at varying heights so as to be suitable for all ages, always in total safety, in the Municipality of Marliana in the Pistoia Mountains.

Doganaccia 2000

Theme parks

On the Croce Arcana slopes, in the town of Abetone Cutigliano, Doganaccia 2000 offers you enjoyable outdoor activities all the year round in the splendid setting of the Pistoia Mountains.

San Jacopo Orchard Park

Nature

This truly unique park, to be both admired and "tasted", is to be found in Pistoia. There are more than 200 different types of fruit, mostly local Tuscan ones.

Abetone Gravity Park

Theme parks

Un riferimento per i downhiller dell'Italia centrale, con un mix unico di calda ospitalità e stile toscano, dotato di un'officina e un noleggio bici con le ultime novità.

Museum of Everyday Life in the Pistoia Apennines

This museum can take you on a journey through the lives of its Apeninne inhabitants from centuries past to modern times. It is a part of the itinerary of Daily life of Pistoia Mountains' Ecomuseum.

The Black Lake Bivouac

Nature

This mountain lodge stands on the Black Lake's edge, a few minutes on foot from the Flat Lake.

Palazzo Fabroni Museum of 20th-century and contemporary art

Museums

The Museum exhibits the Municipality of Pistoia’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary art and houses temporary exhibitions.

Gothic Line Museum

Museums

The museum preserves and hands down to the present, the memory of the events that marked out this territory during the Second World War.

Palazzo Achilli – Ecomuseo info point

Museums

Partially rebuilt in the 18th century by Filippo Achilli, to whom it owes its name, Palazzo Achilli - apart from being the central information point of the Ecomuseum - is also seat to temporary exhibitions and to educational laboratories for adults and children.

Abetone Botanical forest garden

Nature

A path through colours and fragrances in Pistoia's Upper Apennines, created in order to safeguard Biodiversity. It is a part of the Naturalistic Itinerary of the Pistoia Mountains' Ecomuseum.

Ferriere Suspension Bridge

Nature

A fascinating steel structure, 227 meters long and 36 metres high, in San Marcello Piteglio.

Acquerino Forest, a Biogenetic Reserve

Nature

The Acquerino forest is an environment of extraordinary biodiversity. The area includes an archaeological park. It is part of the Stone Itinerary od Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese.

Madonnina icehouse

Nature

The Madonnina icehouse stands majestically along the grand ducal road near the settlement of Le Piastre and is part of the Ice trail tour of the Ecomuseum of Pistoia Mountains.

The Museum of Iron and the Garden of Renewable Energy

Museums

It is a part of the Iron Itinerary of the Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese and tells the tale of the long and deeply-rooted, local traditions present in the working of iron.

Villa La Magia

Villas and palaces

On the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the serial site "The Medici Family's Villas and Gardens in Tuscany".

Palazzo Comunale

Villas and palaces

The ancient seat of government of the city maintains this function still today.

Piazza della Sala

Squares and neighborhoods

This was the city’s ancient centre under Lombard rule. The square later went on to assume and consolidate its commercial function. In the Piazza dell’Ortaggio, standing next to the Piazza della Sala, we can see a very unusual bronze sculpture, the “Giro del Sole” by Roberto Barni.

Pistoia Sotterranea

Underground path

The path winds under the city of Pistoia, in the tunnel where the Brana river flowed until the 14th century.

Open from Thursday to Tuesday 

Zoological Gardens of Pistoia

Zoological Garden

The mission: to be a center that raises public awareness of biodiversity and its value to human life.

Everyday

Basilica of the Madonna dell’Umiltà

Churches

Its imposing dome, designed by Giorgio Vasari, went on to become one of the Pistoia’s most prominent symbols.

Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola (Spirito Santo)

Churches

The church houses the high altar, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and the great altarpiece, by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, depicting the Apparizione di Cristo a Sant’Ignazio.

Church of San Francesco

Churches

The monasterial complex of the Church of San Francesco is a wonderful work of architecture dating back to the 13th century.

City Museum of Antique Art

Museums

The Civic Museum can be found inside the Town Hall, the Palazzo Giano, known also as the Palazzo degli Anziani.

Fattoria di Celle and Gori Collection

Art garden

The park of the historical, 15th century, monumental Villa, holds a collection of 80 works of environmental art.

Temporarily closed

Via Romea Strata

Ways and paths

Main attractions: Croce Arcana Pass, Cutigliano, Ecomuseum of the Montagna Pistoiese, Suspension bridge of San Marcello Pistoiese, Montagna Pistoiese Astronomical Observatory, Pistoia, Montalbano, Pieve di San Baronto, Vinci, Cerreto Guidi, Fucecchio, San Miniato.

Via Romea Germanica Imperiale

Ways and paths

Main attractions: Fiumalbo, Abetone Pass, Cutigliano, San Marcello Pistoiese, Montagna Pistoiese Astronomical Observatory, Ecomuseum of the Montagna Pistoiese, Sanctuary of the Madonna di Valdibrana, Pistoia, Villa di Celle, Rocca di Montemurlo, Natural reserve of Monteferrato, Prato, Castle of Calenzano, Etruscan archaeological site of Quinto, Medicea nvillas of Castello, Firenze, ancient hospital del Bigallo, Figline and Incisa Valdarno, San Giovanni Valdarno, Montevarchi, Laterina, Arezzo.

Via Francesca della Sambuca

Ways and paths

Main attractions: Bologna, Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore, Sanctuaryof the Madonna di San Luca, Ospitale di San Niccolò, Palazzo De’ Rossi, Rupe del Sasso, Pieve di San Lorenzo di Panico, Marzabotto, Rupi di Calvenzano, Vergato, Montovolo, La Rocchetta Mattei, Montecavalloro, Savignano, Mulino di Chicon, Pavana, Sambuca, San Pellegrino al Cassero, Spedaletto, Sanctuary of the Madonna di Valdibrana, Pistoia.

Cammino di San Bartolomeo

Ways and paths

Punti di interesse: Fiumalbo, Cutigliano, Towers of Popiglio, Castruccio Bridge, Piteglio, Ecomuseum of the Montagna Pistoiese, Suspension bridge of San Marcello Pistoiese, Pieve di Controni, Church of San Paolo a Vicopancellorum, Madonnina ice house, San Marcello Pistoiese, Spedaletto, Natural reserve of Acquerino-Cantagallo, Church of San Bartolomeo in Pantano, Pistoia.

Church of San Giovanni Fuorcivitas

Churches

The church was originally built outside the town walls, hence the name Fuorcivitas, meaning “outside the city”.

Duomo square

Squares and neighborhoods

The artistic and historical heart of Pistoia, that encloses the most emblematic buildings of the city.

Fernando Melani house-studio

Museums

The house-studio can be considered an excellent text for the study of contemporary art.

Palazzo Buontalenti

Museums

The headquarters of Fondazione Pistoia Musei dedicated to temporary exhibitions. In Palazzo Buontalenti.

Museum of the Spedale del Ceppo

Museums

A specific section is dedicated to the Della Robbia Frieze in polychrome glazed terracotta, set on the external loggia

San Salvatore

Museums

The church of San Salvatore, recently transformed into a museum and exhibition space, is one of the Fondazione Pistoia Musei venues.

House-museum Sigfrido Bartolini

Museums

Family residence, but first of all home and workshop for the various activities of the artist.

Porrettana Railway

Porrettana Railway

For more than 150 years the Porrettana Railway track has been an integral part of the Pistoia Mountains

Astronomical Observatory of the Pistoia Mountains

Astronomical Observatory

The constellations, the Moon, the planets, the stars, and, by day, the Sun are the most admired celestial objects by visitors.

All year on reservation

Black Lake

Nature

This mountain lake, dating back to the ice age, is surrounded by majestic Apennine elevations, just shy of 2000 metres high.

Cathedral of San Zeno

Churches

The Cathedral houses the silver altar, one of the most prominent works of Italian and European Gothic goldsmithery, and a relic of Saint James.

Palazzo de’ Rossi

Museums

The home of the Fondazione Pistoia Musei, dedicated to 20th-century art in Pistoia.

Every day

Rospigliosi Museum e Diocesan Museum

Museums

From the sumptuous furnishings of the papal apartment, set up for Clement IX, to the sacred artworks from the churches of the Diocesi.

Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi

Museums

Housed in the historical bishop’s seat, the museums display a substantial part of the city of Pistoia’s art. One of the Fondazione Pistoia Musei’s centerpieces, this palace is dedicated to ancient and modern art.

From Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays

Cammino di San Jacopo

Ways and paths

Main attractions: Firenze, Etruscan archaeological site of Quinto, Castle of Calenzano, Prato, Natural reserve of Monteferrato, Rocca di Montemurlo, Villa di Celle, Pistoia, Serravalle Pistoiese, Thermal baths of Montecatini, Castle of Buggiano, Uzzano, Pescia, Via della Fiaba, Collodi, Lucca, Monte Pisano, Pisa, Basilica di San Pietro a Grado, Livorno.

The Forest of Teso

It stands to the north of Pistoia and to the south of the border with the Province of Bologna in the Pistoia Mountains.

Church of Sant’Andrea

Churches

The church features a magnificent pulpit, with white marble reliefs and porphyry columns, and two painted wooden crucifixes, which are attributed to the work of Giovanni Pisano.