Pistoia - Castles, palaces and mansions Palazzo del Tau The Palazzo del Tau is an ancient monastery of the Hospitaliero di Sant'Antonio Abate. Today home to the Marino Marini Museum, inside it we can find sculptures, paintings, lithographs and etchings by the artist known for his sense of movement and drama. The building is also home to an active multipurpose space, in the lobby of the museum there are, in fact, numerous concerts, theatrical performances, conferences, poetry readings or book presentations, enriching the artistic and cultural repertoire of the city.
Pistoia - Museums Centro Documentazione Marino Marini The Marino Marini Museum is currently home to both the Documentation Center, inaugurated in 1979 in the halls of the Palazzo Comunale di Pistoia, and the Marino Marini Foundation established in Pistoia in 1983. It also houses a library equipped with everything on Marino's activity with monographs, catalogues, art magazines and a complete collection of newspaper articles. The Tau complex is also part of the museum.
Pistoia - Churches and places of worship Pieve di Sant' Andrea The Parish Church of Sant'Andrea or Church of Sant'Andrea is a church built in the 8th century and is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle. It is also part of the Diocese of Pistoia. Originally it was smaller in size and later in the twelfth century only the length was changed, which gave the building a vertical momentum that still fascinates many. You can see inside a sculpture depicting the journey of the Magi of Gruamonte.
Pistoia - Monuments Ospedale del Ceppo A few steps from Piazza Duomo, heading north, is the Ospedale del Ceppo, the most important social institution of Pistoia. The building was built in the 13th century. The facade is decorated with a beautiful Florentine portico and by the famous Robbiano frieze that runs, horizontally, over the entire facade.
Pistoia - Churches and places of worship Cattedrale di San Zeno The Cathedral of San Zeno is located in Pistoia and was built in the tenth century. Initially, it was named after San Martino, but over time it was dedicated to San Zeno. It is the place of worship of the city of Pistoia. Inside the cathedral you can see the exhibition of refined sculptures. The cathedral has suffered several damages over the years. The bell tower of the church is dedicated to the “Bishop Moro”.
Pistoia - Streets and Squares Piazza del Duomo The Piazza del Duomo of medieval origin, was founded in 400. In this square are located the most important public buildings in the city including: Palazzo del Comune, Palazzo dei Vescovi and Palazzo Pretorio. The square is dominated by the Duomo which has a suggestive facade with 3 orders of loggias. In the first half of 1900, it was modified into Romanesque-Pisan forms.
Pistoia - Castles, palaces and mansions Palazzo Pretorio This building is one of the oldest buildings in Pistoia. According to official documents, Palazzo Pretorio was built after the year 1300 and was the seat of the administrators of the city. In 1880 the palace became the seat of the Court of Justice and changes were indispensable to renew the building and adapting it to the new function.
Pistoia - Castles, palaces and mansions Palazzo dei Vescovi The Bishops' Palace represents an important example of civil architecture of the Middle Ages, in the heart of the city of Pistoia. It also houses the Chapter Museum, which houses the sacred furnishings and liturgical vestments coming from the Cathedral of San Iacopo.
Pistoia - Castles, palaces and mansions Palazzo Fabroni The structure of the 700 is named after the noble family of the Fabroni who lived there until 1842. It is home to the activities related to the contemporary visual arts of the Municipality of Pistoia. Inside we find the splendid pulpit by Giovanni Pisano (1301). Numerous collections in the building, in particular artists linked to the city by birth and adoption.
Pistoia - Walls, towers and gates Torre di Catilina Considered a historical monument of the city, it was built in the 9th century in Piazza del Duomo. Built entirely of stone, the tower is about 30 meters high. A lookout terrace has also been added to the roof, thanks to the panoramic position that allows the complete view of Piazza del Duomo.
Pistoia - Lighthouses and observation points Osservatorio The Pistoia Observatory was created in 1999 by the idea of the three founding partners: Marco Mancini, Tiziano Capecchi and Marco Burali. The birth of this observatory is due to a random meeting of the three founders during a public evening organized by an association. The name ``MTM Observatory`` contains the initials of the founders' baptism names and was created by the passion of being able to explore the sky and subsequently an excellent shooting position for all astronomy enthusiasts.
Pistoia - Streets and Squares Piazza della Sala Piazza della Sala is located in the historic center of the city of Pistoia. Its name derives from the role he played in the Lombard era, when the Palazzo del Gastaldo stood there. Later it became the daily food market and on the sides of the square and in the nearby streets developed small shops with stone pallets and protruding canopies. Today it's one of the most beautiful squares in the city.
Pistoia - Churches and places of worship Basilica Madonna dell'Umiltà Our Lady of Humility was built in the 13th century. It is a basilica of Pistoia dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The structure of the basilica is rich in works of art. The Basilica of Our Lady of Humility is known for its large dome 59 meters high built by Giorgio Vasari.
Pistoia - Castles, palaces and mansions Palazzo del Comune On the facade stand out the arms of the Medici and the head of the King of Majorca Negro Musetto, killed by a captain of Pistoia in 1114. The interior is decorated with beautiful frescoes.
Pistoia - Churches and places of worship Il Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte In the square of the Duomo opposite the cathedral rises the Baptistery. Its reconstruction in its present form was started with an octagonal base starting from 1301. In Gothic style, decorated in green and white marble.
Pistoia - Walls, towers and gates Mura di Pistoia For centuries a clear separation between the city and the surrounding countryside and while the town grew, the walls were extended. Pistoia is still surrounded by the remains of three walls which are open to visitors every day.
Pistoia - Castles, palaces and mansions Fortezza di Santa Barbara The Fortress of Santa Barbara was built in the 16th century as part of the fortifications established by the will of Duke Cosimo I dei Medici. In 1571, changes were made to the initial structure that gave the appearance it still preserves. Built with military architecture, it does not provide for decorative solutions. Throughout history it has been used as a barracks, but also as a military prison.
Abetone - Museums Museo della Gente dell'Appennino Pistoiese The Museum of People of the Pistoia Apennines was created to keep alive and above all transmit the culture of the people of this part of the Apennines. Materials began to be collected during the 1970s and this meant that we can observe a considerable amount of objects today. This structure allows you to maintain a close relationship with the people of the country. Among the various sections, the Toy Laboratory and the Didactic Section of Wool stand out.
Pistoia - Museums Museo della Cattedrale di San Zeno The Museum of the Cathedral of San Zeno is located inside the cathedral located in Piazza Duomo. It dates back to the 19th century and preserves the ecclesiastical heritage. The museum also presents the history of the ancient medieval palace of the bishops of Pistoia. Inside the Museum there are the furnishings of the cathedral “Relic of the Ghiberti”.
Pistoia - Museums Museo Diocesano The Diocesan Museum of Pistoia was initially positioned at the Bishop's Palace, but since 1990 it has been based in Palazzo Rospigliosi. It was founded in 1968, to show the public an exhibition of the ecclesiastical heritage and present the history of sacred art. This also offers a collection of historical documents and prayers written on stone. The museum is open to the public.
Pistoia - Museums Museo Civico The civic museum is located in the Municipal Palace and is arranged on two floors. At the first we find tables with paintings and ancient works, sixteenth-century works from the 13th century to the sixteenth century; on the second floor we have works of Florentine and Pistoia painting.
Montale - Castles, palaces and mansions La Smilea Historical news of the Smilea Castle began in 1427, when it was owned by the noble Panciatichi family. The castle was located in a strategic position along the route of the Via Cassia Clodia. In 1611 the property passed to the Florentine nobleman, Francesco di Piero Covoni, who transformed the building into a stately villa. From the early 1990s the structure passed to several owners until in 2003 it passed under the ownership of the Municipality of Montale.
Pistoia - Museums Casa Studio "F.Melani" Casa Studio F. Melani was the residence of the homonymous artist and the place where he created his entire art repertoire. Inside there is a very nice environment in which you can notice the elements of Conceptual Art, Arte Povera and Minimal Art. It is the place for those who are interested in art and culture.
Pistoia - Museums Museo Palazzo Rospigliosi The museum is located in the residence of the Rospigliosi family. In the building we can see original furnishings, furniture, frescoes, upholstery and more than 50 works of antiquity. In the building we find the Diocesan Museum and since 2004 we also find the Museum of Embroidery.