passion4food4fashion

Why should you visit Pistoia?

Not just because it is my birthplace , of course! 

( or  maybe…. just fot this?😂😜)

first of all for its location in Italy

in the second century BC it was chosen by the Romans as a stretegical basis  between North & South  : the actual Duomo square became in fact  their  “oppidum “or “market town ” where to stop & have a rest  , eating & drinking to regaign strenght & then leaving to struggle towards new ennemies

Florence is just 30km from here,Lucca & Pisa and the seaside on the Tyrrhenian sea just 40/50 minutes driving

Pistoia is easly reacheable from the two Tuscan airports ( Firenze & Pisa) & very well connected by high speed train with all the main  towns in Italy

for its beautiful mountains

Abetone is a very renowned village where to go to sky in winter time & having long walking & trekking looking for blackberries & wild fruits in summer  time & for mushrooms 

  
for its hills

only in five minutes driving  from the city centre you can find hectars of olive groves and wineyards & beautiful landscapes & old forest full chestnuts trees & lovely villas 

  
for its baths & spa

in Pistoia’s district ,  you can find one of the best spa of Europe, a natural grotto ,  where even Giuseppe Verdi enjoyed its benefical effects , a very big swimming pool with thermal water & a  relaxing massages spa 

for its Green

  
yes, as Pistoia has been called “the city of green” for all its greenhouses & nurseries plants exported  all over the world  – tall trees as well as the best varieties of  roses  – to beutify prestogious villas gardens & parks in Europe & overseas

  
for its prestigious past

it has been an Etruscan city first ( dated back 600- 500 B.C. ) & Roman oppidum ( 2nd Century B.C.) and  was a free Commune declared with the oldest   statute of Italy dated 1117! 

An archeological museum just located in  main square can show you ruins & old tools from that Age 

  
for its architecture & art

many beautiful old churches ( of different styles from Romanesque period to Baroque  ) & the third biggest dome of Italy after Rome & Florence …old palaces and small  squares and the De la Robbia  terracotta freize just restored, simply magnificent!

  

for its quiet , secure & relaxing atmosphere

Pistoia is very small , very cosy ….it will pamper you ! 

with a low level  of crime my city  will show you the real Italian  lifestyle of a minor Tuscan location with  its uncrowded  old narrow streets, but with a great heritage to share & show you  

  

for its old organs

in some of our Churches you can see & hear playing  old organs as just Pistoia hosted  a prestigious organs pipes’ producer  starting from the 18th Century & still making  cymbals & percussions for the most famous drummers & players in the world

for its hospitality

from chic  four star hotels to characteristic b&b & famhouses there is a huge choice: wine & extra virgin olive  oil tastings are available by   local  wine estates or becoming a real Tuscan chef just for a day with a cooking class

  
  

 
for its museums

Marino Marini’s  foundation , the only embrodery museum of Europe, the Pope’s  Clemente IX palace ( yes, we have had a Pope from Pistoia !) palazzo Fabroni , modern art museum ,the archeological & the city hall to mention just few(the underground guided path is really interesting too)

  
for its zoo

Pistoia can  be called “kids friendy ” for this  zoo just few minutes from the  city center & immersed in the green hills open all year round , in the nearby  the Collodi hamlet hosts Pinocchio’s theme park & the butterflies park along with an historical magnificent Villa Garzoni’s garden

  
  

for its markets & shopping

since the Middle Age the Duomo square hosted the open air  market: at the present two time per week you can fine in the same location of many centuries before,  nice clothes & shoes and in the nearby “La Sala” small square ,a coloured market that offers vegetables & fruits  everyday with lots of stores with many delicatessen for foodies 

furthermore very nice boutiques with all the most prestigious fashion brands are available in its central streets with  a huge choice  of top quality items 👢👠👛👓👜💍💄👗👚

  
   
for its libraries

the biggest library in Tuscany is the San Giorgio one, in a modern setting, just near the train station

an old one , the Forteguerriana  with precious old books is hosted in a beautiful historical palace just in the heart of the city

   
for its movida !🍸💃🏽💃🏽🍷🎺🎸☕️

believe or not in this small town we have a GREAT  movida especially in the week-end in the Sala square : it is so full of small cafès, bistrots, wine bars, trattorie,restaurants that hundreds of young ( and not only young ) people love to eat & walk here as in  a movable  feast as Hemingway wrote  about Paris..Pistoia is  not the capital of France ,of course , but I think  you will enjoy the spirit you can breath in the air 

    

 And now if you want to visit me here … just ask me more & I will give you names & more info!

Enjoy life😍❤️👍