Sharing a border with those of Lucca and Florence, the province of Pistoia is almost certainly the least visited in Tuscany - unjustly so, as Pistoia itself is a fine and quiet mediaeval town, and the spa towns of Montecatini Terme and Munsummano Terme, in the green Valdinievole, are some of the grandest in Italy.
Pistoia is located pretty much midway between Florence and Lucca/Pisa - roughly half an hour distance between them - and the area makes a good base for travelling the regions. Far, far quieter than many areas of Tuscany, yet on the doorstep to the more famous cities of art, it has itself recently been awarded this accolade.

... Which leads us nicely into the Black & White Guelphs, the murderous reputation of the Pistoiese (Michelangelo referred to them as the 'enemies of heaven'), and the legend of the injured child. Two children of Pistoia were playing with a sword when one became injured - the second child's father dispatched him to apologise to the other family whereupon the father of the injured child declared that 'iron, not words is the remedy for sword wounds' and promptly cut off the hand of the offending child.

It is said that we can thank Pistoia for the word 'pistol', originating from the word pistole, a type of dagger. Today, the murderous reputation of Pistoia is given the lie by the not-exactly-known-for-violence plant and flower trade, and the enormous nurseries that surround and support the town.

Worth a visit is the museum of the towns most famous modern day son, Marino Marini, and a good time to visit is during July, for Luglio Pistoiese, the highpoint of which is the mediaeval pageant Giostro dell Orso on the 25th.of July.

There is also the annual blues festival, and the town is also a base for skiing and winter sports on the surrounding mountains, Abetone being the main resort.