Pistoia Holidays 2012

Pistoia at a Glance

Pistoia, the ‘city of art’, is the capital of the Tuscan province of the same name. Surrounded by the beautiful rolling landscape, this small quaint town will fascinate any visitor with its multitude of churches and famous markets.

Perfect for...

• Those who want to explore Tuscany. Pistoia is only thirty kilometres from Florence, and is the perfect Tuscan holiday base.
• Couples who want relaxation. Pistoia’s relatively small centre and slow pace make it a peaceful destination.
• Pistoia has a beautiful church and piazza at every turn, full of amazing frescoes and sculpture. Perfect for lovers of art.

Pistoia Highlights

• Wander the narrow medieval streets of Pistoia old town, with its irregular piazzas, palaces and town houses. Enjoy the relaxed pace of life here, and spend hours sipping Italian coffee in a piazza café.
• A must visit is the Piazza del Duomo, and the dominating Cathedral of San Zeno. Burned down in 1108 and incrementally built until the 17th century, this fascinating Duomo has a Romanesque façade. Take a look inside and find the world famous Alter of St James. This solid silver alter took nearly two centuries to finish, and features 628 silver figurines.
• Marvel at the 30 metre high Tower of Catilina, built in the middle ages and a survivor of the earthquakes.
• If you are holidaying in Pistoia in July, you must not miss the Giostra dell’Orso, ‘Joust of Bears’, on the 25th. This ancient competition began in the 14th century and involves the region’s best horseman jousting a bear shaped dummy.
• In the second week of July, Pistoia holds the Pistoia blues music concert. A must visit for music fans, this festival has welcomed the likes of Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan and Patti Smith over the years.
• The small old town centre of Pistoia means one could easily spend a day exploring on foot. See how many churches you can find, such as the domed Sanctuary of Madonna dell’Umillta. In the quaint Piazza San Leone sits the church of San Giovanni Fuoricivitas. This church is said to be adorned with more green and white stripes than any other church in the world!
• Explore outside the capital and into the hills of Pistoia province, including the town of Collodi – the birthplace of Pinocchio. Those after deeper relaxation will want to seek out the spas of Montecatini Terme and Monsummano Terme.

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