Pistoia
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Pistoia lies about 35 km northwest of Florence and is one of Tuscany's most underrated cities: a medieval cathedral square, Romanesque churches, an underground tour – and significantly less crowding than Florence or Lucca . The city, with just under 90.000 inhabitants, is the capital of the province of Pistoia and was Italy's European Capital of Culture in 2017.
Pistoia at a glance
- Market days: Wednesday and Saturday mornings at Piazza del Duomo (during events in the Zona Stadio)
- Highlights: Piazza del Duomo, Cathedral of San Zeno with silver altar, baptistery, pulpit by Giovanni Pisano in Sant'Andrea, Ospedale del Ceppo, Pistoia Sotterranea
- Events: Pistoia Blues Festival (jedes Jahr im Juli auf dem Domplatz), Giostra dell’Orso am 25. Juli
- Events: Pistoia Blues Festival (every year in July in the cathedral square), Giostra dell'Orso on July 25th
- Arrival: Approximately 35 km from Florence, regional train without changing trains in about 40 minutes.
Sights in Pistoia
Piazza del Duomo
The Piazza del Duomo is one of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany. Here you'll find the Cathedral of San Zeno with its famous silver altar of Saint James (San Jacopo, the city's patron saint), the tall bell tower, the octagonal Gothic Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte (completed in 1359), the Palazzo Comunale (City Museum), and the Palazzo del Podestà (City Hall). Allow at least two hours for the square, the cathedral, and the baptistery.
Climb the bell tower: The 67-meter-high campanile of the cathedral (its current form dates from 1576) can only be climbed with a guided tour; tickets are available in the baptistery opposite. From the top, you can overlook the cathedral square and the rooftops of the old town, stretching as far as the Pistoies Mountains.
Sant'Andrea and the pulpit by Giovanni Pisano
The Romanesque church of Sant'Andrea boasts one of the great masterpieces of Gothic sculpture in Italy: the marble pulpit by Giovanni Pisano (circa 1300) with its densely packed reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The two-tone striped facade alone makes the short detour from the cathedral square worthwhile.
Other Romanesque churches with typical green and white marble cladding include San Giovanni Fuorcivitas and San Bartolomeo in Pantano. The Renaissance basilica Madonna dell'Umiltà, with its large dome, is just a short walk from the center.
Ospedale del Ceppo and Pistoia Sotterranea
Das mittelalterliche Hospital Ospedale del Ceppo ist bekannt für seinen farbig glasierten Terrakotta-Fries der Della-Robbia-Werkstatt an der Vorhalle, der die sieben Werke der Barmherzigkeit zeigt. Unter dem Gebäude führt der Rundgang „Pistoia Sotterranea“ rund 650 Meter durch das alte Flussbett der Brana – mit Resten einer römischen Brücke, mittelalterlichen Waschplätzen, einem alten Stadttor und zwei Mühlen, die ältere aus dem 12. Jahrhundert. Danach geht es in ein winziges historisches Anatomie-Theater. Besichtigung nur mit Führung; online gebucht ist der Eintritt etwas günstiger.
| Underground Pistoia | Price (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Adults online / in person | 15 € / 16 € |
| Children aged 6–14, seniors aged 65 and over | 12 € |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children 6–14) | 45 € |
| Children up to 5 years | Free |
Hall Square
The old market square with the fountain “Pozzo del Leoncino” is the heart of everyday life: in the morning with food stalls, in the evening with trattorias and bars – ideal for an aperitivo after a city tour.
Suggested walking tour for a day
- Piazza del Duomo: Cathedral of San Zeno with silver altar, baptistery, Palazzo Comunale – guided tours also include a climb up to the campanile.
- Piazza della Sala: A marketplace with food stalls, bars and trattorias – perfect for a lunch break.
- Sant'Andrea: the pulpit by Giovanni Pisano.
- Ospedale del Ceppo: Terracotta frieze from the Della Robbia workshop and guided tour of Pistoia Sotterranea (reservations required).
- San Giovanni Fuorcivitas and Madonna dell'Umiltà: Finally, before heading back to the Piazza della Sala for aperitivo.
Market and events
Weekly market in Pistoia: Wednesday and Saturday
The large weekly market ("Mercato città di Pistoia") takes place every Wednesday and Saturday in the Piazza del Duomo and the surrounding streets, according to the city administration. It runs from morning until approximately 14 pm, when the market closes. When major events are held in the cathedral square (especially in June and July for Pistoia Blues and the Giostra dell'Orso), the market temporarily relocates to the Zona Stadio (Via dello Stadio/Via delle Olimpiadi). For markets in other towns, please see our overview of weekly markets in Tuscany.
Pistoia Blues Festival
Seit Jahrzehnten verwandelt das Pistoia Blues Festival den Domplatz jeden Juli in eine Open-Air-Bühne für internationalen Blues, Rock und italienische Liedermacher. Das Festival gibt es seit 1980; die 45. Ausgabe lief 2026 vom 2. bis 10. Juli. Die Termine für 2027 waren im Oktober 2026 noch nicht veröffentlicht. Tickets für die Abendkonzerte sind bei bekannten Namen schnell vergriffen – wer in dieser Zeit anreist, sollte auch die Unterkunft früh buchen.
Giostra dell’Orso am 25. Juli
Zum Fest des Stadtpatrons San Jacopo findet am 25. Juli auf der Piazza del Duomo die Giostra dell’Orso statt, ein historisches Reiterturnier der Stadtviertel. Der ganze Juli steht in Pistoia im Zeichen dieser Tradition.
Excursions around Pistoia
Pistoia Zoo
The Pistoia Zoo (Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia) opened in 1970 and is located just outside the city center. Over 7 animals live on approximately 500 hectares of publicly accessible grounds – a worthwhile half-day trip with children. The zoo (Via Pieve a Celle Nuova 160/a) is open every day of the year: Mon–Fri 9:30 am–18 pm (last entry 17 pm), Sat/Sun 9:30 am–19 pm (last entry 17:30 pm). Admission (as of 2026): Adults €21, children 3–10 years €16, seniors (65+) €20, children under 3 free.
Villa La Magia in Quarrata
Die Medici-Villa La Magia in Quarrata, wenige Kilometer südlich von Pistoia, entstand im 14. Jahrhundert für die Familie Panciatichi und kam später an die Medici. Seit 2013 gehört sie zum UNESCO-Welterbe „Medici-Villen und -Gärten in der Toskana“.
Montecatini Terme, Pistoies Mountains and Florence
Just 15 km to the west lies the spa town of Montecatini Terme with its historic thermal baths and funicular railway to Montecatini Alto – you can find more spas under Thermal Baths of Tuscany . To the north, the Pistoia Mountains rise up to the Abetone ski resort. And you can reach Florence by regional train without changing trains.
Arrival and accommodation
Pistoia is located on the A11 motorway (Florence–Lucca–sea) and on the Florence–Lucca–Viareggio railway line. Regional trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella run via Prato without requiring a change and take around 40 minutes – a good alternative to driving, also for a day trip to Lucca . The old town is largely a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) – park in one of the car parks outside the city walls and walk to the center.
Find tours and accommodation
Guided tours and excursions in and around Pistoia can be found at GetYourGuide: Tours in Pistoia . Compare hotels, B&Bs and holiday apartments in the old town at Booking.com: Accommodation in Pistoia – often significantly cheaper than in Florence and a good base for day trips.
Find accommodation in Pistoia
Frequently asked questions about Pistoia
On which day is the market in Pistoia?
The large weekly market takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in Piazza del Duomo and the surrounding streets. During major events in the cathedral square, it moves to the Zona Stadio.
What should you see in Pistoia?
The Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral of San Zeno, Campanile and Baptistery, the pulpit of Giovanni Pisano in Sant'Andrea, the Ospedale del Ceppo with the underground walkway Pistoia Sotterranea and the Piazza della Sala.
How much does Pistoia Sotterranea cost?
Adults pay €15 online, €16 on site; children aged 6 to 14 and seniors aged 65 and over pay €12, families (2 adults + 2 children) pay €45. Children under 5 are free (as of 2026). Visits are by guided tour only.
When is the Pistoia Blues Festival 2027?
Das Festival findet jedes Jahr im Juli auf der Piazza del Duomo statt, 2026 vom 2. bis 10. Juli. Die Termine für 2027 waren im Oktober 2026 noch nicht veröffentlicht.
When is the Giostra dell'Orso?
Jedes Jahr am 25. Juli, dem Fest des Stadtpatrons San Jacopo, auf der Piazza del Duomo.
How do you get from Florence to Pistoia?
Take the regional train from Florence Santa Maria Novella (no changes required) in about 40 minutes, or drive via the A11 motorway (approximately 35 km). The old town is a ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) – park outside the city walls.
