Pistoiese

<< Tuscany

The Province of Pistoia features valleys and hills to the south, and a mountainous area to the north. A few historic towns and some popular spa resorts are located in the Pistoiese, and feature various interesting attractions.

Monsummano Terme

Monsummano Terme is a spa town located just east of Montecatini Terme in the Province of Pistoia. Founded in ancient times, the city developed as an industrial center and spa resort since the 19th century.

Museum of the City and the Territory

The Museum of the City and the Territory (Museo della Città e del Territorio) is a museum hosted in a 17th-century palace in the center of Monsummano Terme. The museum houses a collection of fossils, minerals, and archaeological finds from the area around the town, along with various exhibits on local history and a collection of historic artworks.

Museum of Contemporary and 20th-Century Art

The Museum of Contemporary and 20th-Century Art (Museo di Arte Contemporanea e del Novecento) is an art museum in Monsummano Terme. The museum, hosted in a historic villa, features a rich collection of artworks mostly dating fom the 20th century.

Monsummano Alto Castle

The Monsummano Alto Castle is a ruined castle located on a hill overlooking Monsummano Terme. The castle dates from the Middle Ages and it has an elliptical shape. The fortress was later destroyed, but a few structures have survived to this day. Thanks to its position, the castle offers a great view on the surrounding area.

Montecatini Terme

Montecatini Terme is a spa resort in the Province of Pistoia. The old town, located on top of a hill, dates from the Middle Ages, but the town developed thanks to its thermal baths since the 18th century, and became one of the most popular spa resorts in Europe. In 2021, it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe.

Thermal Baths of Montecatini

Montecatini Terme was developed as a spa resort in the 18th century, with the construction of the first thermal baths here, and many elaborate buildings were later erected to host the thermal baths. The most notable of these is the Terme Tettuccio. This spa, opened in the late 18th century, was reworked in the 20th century with decorations inspired by ancient Roman baths.

Montecatini Alto

Montecatini Alto is the medieval old town of Montecatini Terme. The village is located on top of a hill, and it is linked with the rest of the city through a historic funicular opened in 1898. Montecatini Alto features various ancient buildings, such as a castle and a clock tower.

Pescia

Pescia is a town located at the foot of the hills of the Province of Pistoia. It was for centuries a minor trade center, and now it features various interesting historic attractions.

Church of San Francesco

The Church of San Francesco is a small religious building in Pescia. The church, built in Romanesque and Gothic style during the 13th century, features various ancient frescoes and decorations. The most notable artwork in the church is a painting depicting Saint Francis of Assisi made in 1235, only nine years after the death of the saint.

Oratory of Sant’Antonio Abate

The Oratory of Sant’Antonio Abate (Oratorio di Sant’Antonio Abate) is a small 14th-century oratory in Pescia. The building houses some artworks and a large cycle of frescoes painted in the Late Middle Ages.

Paper Museum of Pescia

The Paper Museum of Pescia (Museo della Carta di Pescia) is museum located in the hamlet of Pietrabuona, north of Pescia. The museum is dedicated to the tradition of processing and manufacturing handmade paper in Pescia, that goes back various centuries. The museum houses historic tools and documents, and it is hosted in a former paper factory.

Collodi

Collodi is a small town near Pescia known for its link to the author of The Adventures of Pinocchio, who used Carlo Collodi as his pen name.

Pinocchio Park

The Pinocchio Park (Parco di Pinocchio) is a park in Collodi, dedicated to The Adventures of Pinocchio, and its main character Pinocchio. The park features various sculptures and other attractions dedicated to the famous character.

Villa Garzoni

Villa Garzoni is a large villa in Collodi. The current appearance of the villa dates between the 17th and 18th century. Around this time, a hillside garden with various decorations and an elaborate series of staircases was added.