Tuscany Review
  • Home
    • Contact
    • The Italy Review Network >
      • Italy Review
      • City Guides >
        • Florence Review
        • Milan Review
        • Naples Review
        • Pisa Review
        • Roma Review
        • Turin Review
        • Venice Review
        • Verona Review
      • Region Guides >
        • Northern Italy >
          • Emilia Romagna Review
          • Friuli Venezia Giulia Review
          • Liguria Review
          • Lombardy Review
          • Piemonte Review
          • Trentino Review
          • Valle d'Aosta Review
          • Veneto Review
        • Central Italy >
          • Abruzzo Review
          • Lazio Review
          • Marche Review
          • Molise Review
          • Umbria Review
        • Southern Italy >
          • Amalfi Coast Review
          • Basilicata Review
          • Calabria Review
          • Campania Review
          • Puglia Review
          • Sorrento Review
      • Island Guides >
        • Capri Island Review
        • Elba Review
        • Ischia Review
        • Ponza Review
        • Procida Review
        • Sardinia Review
        • Sicily Review
  • Things to see in Tuscany
    • Cities of Tuscany >
      • Florence
      • Pisa
      • Siena
      • Lucca
      • Arezzo
      • Prato
      • Pistoia
      • Livorno
      • Grosseto
      • Massa
      • Carrara
    • Scenic Towns of Tuscany >
      • Hill Towns of Tuscany >
        • San Gimignano
        • Pienza
        • Volterra
        • Montepulciano
        • Cortona
        • Montalcino
        • Monterchi
        • Monteriggioni
        • Massa Marittima
        • San Miniato
        • Fiesole
        • Roccatederighi
      • Seaside Towns in Tuscany >
        • Viareggio
        • Castiglione della Pescaia
        • Forte dei Marmi
        • Porto Santo Stefano
        • Porto Ercole
        • Orbetello
        • Rosignano Marittimo
        • San Vincenzo
        • Follonica
      • Orange Flag Towns of Tuscany >
        • Pitigliano
        • Chiusi
        • Santa Fiora Amiata
        • Casciana Terme
        • Lari
        • Sarteano
        • Certaldo
        • Castiglion Fiorentino
        • Trequanda
        • Radicofani
        • Peccioli
        • Casale Marittimo
        • Barberino Val d'Elsa
        • Cutigliano
        • Casole d'Elsa
      • Tuscany's Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia >
        • Giglio Castello
        • Sovana
        • San Casciano dei Bagni
        • Castiglione di Garfagnana
        • Coreglia Antelminelli
        • Lucignano
        • Poppi
        • Castelfranco Piandisco
        • Suvereto
        • Buonconvento
        • Montescudaio
        • Scarperia
        • Anghiari
        • Montemerano
        • Barga
        • Loro Ciuffenna
      • Historic Towns of Tuscany >
        • Vinci
        • Pietrasanta
        • Colle di Val d'Elsa
        • Pontremoli
        • Asciano
        • Sorano
        • Bagni di Lucca
        • Reggello
        • Chianciano Terme
        • Sansepolcro
        • Pomarance
        • Borgo San Lorenzo
        • Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
        • San Quirico d'Orcia
      • Pretty Villages of Tuscany >
        • Lajatico
        • Borgo a Mozzano
        • Ponzanello
        • Panzano in Chianti
        • Castiglione d'Orcia
        • Mammiano
        • Montemassi
        • Prata
      • Vineyard Towns of Tuscany >
        • Greve in Chianti
        • Bolgheri
        • Radda in Chianti
        • Carmignano
    • Beach Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Castiglioncello
      • Lido di Camaiore
      • Marina di Cecina
      • Marina di Pietrasanta
      • Marina di Pisa
      • Talamone
      • Marina di Bibbona
      • Baratti
      • Punta Ala
      • Marina di Massa
      • Tirrenia
      • Quercianella
      • Marina di Carrara
    • Beaches of Tuscany >
      • Cala delle Caldane Beach
      • Cala delle Cannelle Beach
      • Cala Spalmatoio
      • Cala del Leone
      • Arenella Beach
      • Campese Beach
      • Spiagge Bianche
      • Le Rocchette
      • Ansedonia
    • Religious Sites of Tuscany >
      • Abbey of Sant'Antimo
      • La Verna
      • Abbey of San Galgano
      • Vallombrosa Abbey
      • Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
      • San Vivaldo
      • Certosa di Pontignano
    • The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano) >
      • Elba
      • Giglio
      • Capraia
      • Pianosa
      • Giannutri
      • Montecristo
      • Gorgona
    • Parks & Nature Reserves of Tuscany >
      • Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
      • Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona & Campigna National Park
      • Migliarino San Rossore Nature Park
      • Parco di Pratolino
      • Calafuria Nature Reserve
    • Landmarks of Tuscany >
      • Ponte della Maddalena
      • Lake Bilancino
      • Lake Santa Luce
      • Monte Amiata
    • Natural Spas of Tuscany >
      • Saturnia
      • Bagno Vignoni
      • Bagni San Filippo
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tuscany >
      • Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany >
        • Medici Villa La Ferdinanda - Artimino
        • Medici Villa Poggio a Caiano
    • Ski Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Abetone
  • Travel
    • Tuscany Airports >
      • Pisa Airport
      • Florence Airport
    • Sea Ports of Tuscany >
      • Piombino
      • Giglio Porto
  • Tuscany Hotels
  • Tuscany
    • Provinces of Tuscany >
      • Metropolitan City of Florence
      • Arezzo Province
      • Grosseto Province
      • Livorno Province
      • Lucca Province
      • Massa & Carrara Province
      • Pisa Province
      • Pistoia Province
      • Prato Province
      • Siena Province
    • Mountain & Valley Regions of Tuscany >
      • Val d'Orcia
      • Chianti
      • Maremma
      • Casentino
      • Garfagnana
      • Mugello
      • Alpi Apuane Regional Park
      • Val d'Elsa
      • Monte Argentario
      • Crete Senesi
      • Monti dell'Uccellina
      • Val di Cecina
      • Valdichiana
    • Versilia

Pistoia

Pistoia


The city of Pistoia is the capital city of the Province of Pistoia with a population of 90,358 inhabitants.

Standing at an elevation of 65 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 236 km² and lies 35 kilometres north west of Florence, the regional capital of Tuscany.

​Italy's Capital of Culture in 2017, Pistoia is described in some quarters as a "mini-Florence" for its architectural legacy, particularly its Baptistery, and deserves more than a fleeting visit.
Pistoia's centre is a triumph of medieval and Renaissance city building with its major historic monuments looking as good now as no doubt they did when they were built. Everything you may wish to see is reachable on foot from the centre and there's really only one place to start: Piazza del Duomo. 

Once a year on 25th July, the feast day of San Jacopo (Saint James), Piazza del Duomo is transformed into an arena, thronged with crowds that come to witness the jousting and heraldic splendour of the city's main event: the Giostro dell'Orso. On every other day of the year, Piazza del Duomo is simply the home to the city's best monuments and its cultural hub. 

The main attraction on Piazza del Duomo is the Cathedral; the Pisan-Romanesque style Cattedrale di San Zeno dates back to the 10th century and houses numerous works of art. Among the highlights here is the Altarpiece of Saint James, housed in the Cappella di San Jacopo. Step outside the Cathedral and you're immediately faced with the 14th century Baptistery with its distinctive horizontal stripes of green and white marble. 

You can't fail to notice the tallest building on Piazza del Duomo which is the Cathedral's Bell Tower (campanile in Italian) which soars to a height of 67 metres. Climb the steps of the tower and you get the best possible view of Pistoia from the summit. While at the top of the Bell Tower you can look down on to some of the city's sights that aren't on Piazza del Duomo. Chief among those is the Chiesa di San Giovanni Fuoricivitas with its unusual side-facing facade, resplendent in the same green and white striped style of the Baptistery. You can also pick out the little square called Piazza della Sala where you'll find a marketplace and lots of places to try some local cuisine. 

Pistoia's train station is situated to the south of the city centre, a ten minute walk (1 km) from Piazza del Duomo. Trains run regularly from Pistoia to the centre of Florence (Santa Maria Novella) with a journey time of 38 minutes, stopping along the way in the neighbouring city of Prato (11 minutes). You can also travel in the opposite direction, west towards the coast, reaching the seaside town of Viareggio in an hour and 6 minutes, with one of the intervening stops at Lucca (46 minutes). 

By car from Pistoia to Florence takes 47 minutes (37 km), while the journey times and distances to the other provincial capitals of Tuscany are as follows: Prato - 28 mins (26 km), Lucca - 40  mins (45 km), Pisa - 49  mins (66 km), Massa - 1 hour (86 km), Livorno - 1 hour 3 mins (87 km), Siena - 1 hour 15 mins (104 km), Arezzo - 1 hour 15 mins (113 km) and Grosseto - 2 hours 2 mins (175 km).

The most convenient airport for Pistoia is Florence Airport which is a 26 minute drive away (32 km), while Tuscany's other major airport, Pisa Airport, is a good alternative at 48 minutes by car (74 km).

Places to visit close to Pistoia include the town of Vinci, birthplace of a certain artist called Leonardo. It may come as a surprise to know that you can go skiing in Tuscany and the region's main ski resort, Abetone, is in the mountains to the north of Pistoia. If heading in that direction by car, the town of Cutigliano is worth a look; it's on the same road as Abetone but closer to Pistoia. 

​​
Accommodation options in and around Pistoia currently include 10 hotels, 50 private apartments and 17 bed & breakfasts. See the link further down to our Hotels page where you'll find live availability and prices. 

Category: Cities of Tuscany

Administrative area: Capital of Pistoia Province

Population: 90,358

Highlights: Cathedral, Baptistery, Bell Tower, Chiesa San Giovanni

Close by: Vinci, Cutigliano, Abetone, Prato, Lucca, Florence

Recommended accommodation: Hotel Patria
Public transport: Central train station, local buses
​
​By train: Prato - 11 minutes, Florence - 38 minutes
By car: Prato - 28 mins (26 km), Lucca - 40  mins (45 km)
​
​
By air: Florence Airport - 26 minutes by car (32 km)


HOME

THINGS TO SEE IN TUSCANY

TRAVEL

TUSCANY HOTELS

TUSCANY

Tuscany Review is part of the Italy Review network of websites, aimed at making life easier for English-speaking people travelling throughout Italy.
For advice on other locations in Italy please visit my websites below:
Capri Island Review
Procida Review
Ischia Review
Veneto Review
Sorrento Review
Abruzzo Review
Amalfi Coast Review
Basilicata Review

Picture

​All photos and images on the site that are marked with the © copyright symbol or with the Tuscany Review logo are the property of Tuscany Review and must not be used elsewhere without prior permission. All written content on the website is the property of Tuscany Review and its use is strictly limited to this website alone. 
  • Home
    • Contact
    • The Italy Review Network >
      • Italy Review
      • City Guides >
        • Florence Review
        • Milan Review
        • Naples Review
        • Pisa Review
        • Roma Review
        • Turin Review
        • Venice Review
        • Verona Review
      • Region Guides >
        • Northern Italy >
          • Emilia Romagna Review
          • Friuli Venezia Giulia Review
          • Liguria Review
          • Lombardy Review
          • Piemonte Review
          • Trentino Review
          • Valle d'Aosta Review
          • Veneto Review
        • Central Italy >
          • Abruzzo Review
          • Lazio Review
          • Marche Review
          • Molise Review
          • Umbria Review
        • Southern Italy >
          • Amalfi Coast Review
          • Basilicata Review
          • Calabria Review
          • Campania Review
          • Puglia Review
          • Sorrento Review
      • Island Guides >
        • Capri Island Review
        • Elba Review
        • Ischia Review
        • Ponza Review
        • Procida Review
        • Sardinia Review
        • Sicily Review
  • Things to see in Tuscany
    • Cities of Tuscany >
      • Florence
      • Pisa
      • Siena
      • Lucca
      • Arezzo
      • Prato
      • Pistoia
      • Livorno
      • Grosseto
      • Massa
      • Carrara
    • Scenic Towns of Tuscany >
      • Hill Towns of Tuscany >
        • San Gimignano
        • Pienza
        • Volterra
        • Montepulciano
        • Cortona
        • Montalcino
        • Monterchi
        • Monteriggioni
        • Massa Marittima
        • San Miniato
        • Fiesole
        • Roccatederighi
      • Seaside Towns in Tuscany >
        • Viareggio
        • Castiglione della Pescaia
        • Forte dei Marmi
        • Porto Santo Stefano
        • Porto Ercole
        • Orbetello
        • Rosignano Marittimo
        • San Vincenzo
        • Follonica
      • Orange Flag Towns of Tuscany >
        • Pitigliano
        • Chiusi
        • Santa Fiora Amiata
        • Casciana Terme
        • Lari
        • Sarteano
        • Certaldo
        • Castiglion Fiorentino
        • Trequanda
        • Radicofani
        • Peccioli
        • Casale Marittimo
        • Barberino Val d'Elsa
        • Cutigliano
        • Casole d'Elsa
      • Tuscany's Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia >
        • Giglio Castello
        • Sovana
        • San Casciano dei Bagni
        • Castiglione di Garfagnana
        • Coreglia Antelminelli
        • Lucignano
        • Poppi
        • Castelfranco Piandisco
        • Suvereto
        • Buonconvento
        • Montescudaio
        • Scarperia
        • Anghiari
        • Montemerano
        • Barga
        • Loro Ciuffenna
      • Historic Towns of Tuscany >
        • Vinci
        • Pietrasanta
        • Colle di Val d'Elsa
        • Pontremoli
        • Asciano
        • Sorano
        • Bagni di Lucca
        • Reggello
        • Chianciano Terme
        • Sansepolcro
        • Pomarance
        • Borgo San Lorenzo
        • Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
        • San Quirico d'Orcia
      • Pretty Villages of Tuscany >
        • Lajatico
        • Borgo a Mozzano
        • Ponzanello
        • Panzano in Chianti
        • Castiglione d'Orcia
        • Mammiano
        • Montemassi
        • Prata
      • Vineyard Towns of Tuscany >
        • Greve in Chianti
        • Bolgheri
        • Radda in Chianti
        • Carmignano
    • Beach Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Castiglioncello
      • Lido di Camaiore
      • Marina di Cecina
      • Marina di Pietrasanta
      • Marina di Pisa
      • Talamone
      • Marina di Bibbona
      • Baratti
      • Punta Ala
      • Marina di Massa
      • Tirrenia
      • Quercianella
      • Marina di Carrara
    • Beaches of Tuscany >
      • Cala delle Caldane Beach
      • Cala delle Cannelle Beach
      • Cala Spalmatoio
      • Cala del Leone
      • Arenella Beach
      • Campese Beach
      • Spiagge Bianche
      • Le Rocchette
      • Ansedonia
    • Religious Sites of Tuscany >
      • Abbey of Sant'Antimo
      • La Verna
      • Abbey of San Galgano
      • Vallombrosa Abbey
      • Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
      • San Vivaldo
      • Certosa di Pontignano
    • The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano) >
      • Elba
      • Giglio
      • Capraia
      • Pianosa
      • Giannutri
      • Montecristo
      • Gorgona
    • Parks & Nature Reserves of Tuscany >
      • Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
      • Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona & Campigna National Park
      • Migliarino San Rossore Nature Park
      • Parco di Pratolino
      • Calafuria Nature Reserve
    • Landmarks of Tuscany >
      • Ponte della Maddalena
      • Lake Bilancino
      • Lake Santa Luce
      • Monte Amiata
    • Natural Spas of Tuscany >
      • Saturnia
      • Bagno Vignoni
      • Bagni San Filippo
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tuscany >
      • Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany >
        • Medici Villa La Ferdinanda - Artimino
        • Medici Villa Poggio a Caiano
    • Ski Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Abetone
  • Travel
    • Tuscany Airports >
      • Pisa Airport
      • Florence Airport
    • Sea Ports of Tuscany >
      • Piombino
      • Giglio Porto
  • Tuscany Hotels
  • Tuscany
    • Provinces of Tuscany >
      • Metropolitan City of Florence
      • Arezzo Province
      • Grosseto Province
      • Livorno Province
      • Lucca Province
      • Massa & Carrara Province
      • Pisa Province
      • Pistoia Province
      • Prato Province
      • Siena Province
    • Mountain & Valley Regions of Tuscany >
      • Val d'Orcia
      • Chianti
      • Maremma
      • Casentino
      • Garfagnana
      • Mugello
      • Alpi Apuane Regional Park
      • Val d'Elsa
      • Monte Argentario
      • Crete Senesi
      • Monti dell'Uccellina
      • Val di Cecina
      • Valdichiana
    • Versilia