| By
courtesy of the author, Mrs Alessandra Falsi
 
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.
Follow the links below for some more information
and photographs as well as suggestions for places to stay.
A recent visitor to Pisa or Lucca will feel at home in the
heart of Pistoia as it shares a similar style of Pisan Romanesque
architecture with those two towns - particularly the Duomo
with its tiered front arcades and distinctive black and white
banded marble decoration. |
| ...
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. |
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