This page explores the surroundings of the pretty town of Pistoia, in the homonymous province, read also the page dedicated to Pistoia
On the Lucca road, the fortress of Serravalle Pistoiese dominates the valley with its fortifications. In the hills and around the medieval village of Marliana there are chestnut forests, vineyards and olive trees.
At the foot of the hills on the south-east side of Pistoia, in Quarrata is the Villa La Magia, a former residence of the Medici family in Montalbano that they bought in the 16th century, built in the 14th century and renovated by Buontalenti, one of the 12 Medicean residences in Tuscany listed by UNESCO. The Medici used it to hunt in the woods.
In the north of the province of Pistoia, the Apennines are home to ski resorts known as Abetone and Doganaccia. In summer you can explore the beautiful mountains around several peaks and small alpine lakes.
In the foothills, the Ecomuseum of the Pistoia Mountains is an opportunity to discover regional activities and traditions on several thematic routes and localities.
To the northeast, Sambuca Pistoiese also has a beautiful mountainous territory.
See also at the end of page Map of the tourist area around Pistoia
Serravalle Pistoiese
Between Lucca and Pistoia, Serravalle Pistoiese still retains its ancient medieval defensive structure that allowed to control the valley.
At each end of the village there is a fortress, the Torre del Barbarossa to the east on one side and the Rocca Nuova (Rocca Nuova) on the other side with its characteristic triangular shape and hexagonal tower. They were included in the walls surrounding the village, of which only a few sections remain, which could be crossed by a patrol road, including the Porta della Gabella.
There are two small churches: San Michele Arcangelo and the oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption.
Pistoia Mountains and Apennines
The mountains north of Pistoia reach almost 2000 meters with several valleys, ski resorts and picturesque alpine landscapes in summer. To the west, the Passo dell’Abetone (1388 m) connects two mountain ranges separated by the Val di Lima.
The best-known ski resorts are Abetone and Doganaccia. The first has 50 km of slopes with 17 lifts, between 1200 and 1950 meters, the second has 15 km of slopes.
In summer you can take beautiful walks around Mont Gomito, Mont Cimone and Libro Aperto, and to several alpine lakes such as Lake Nero, Lake Baccio, Lake Santo or Lake Scinterio.
The foothills are more gentle hills.
The Pistoia Mountains Eco-museum is a museum set in six thematic routes on several localities, with ancient crafts and traditions: iron and blacksmith, ice and its production, nature, sacred art, the stone and daily life and its trades.
In San Marcello Piteglio, you can cross the impressive suspension bridge Ponte Sospeso delle Ferriere that workers used to use to cross the valley.
Pistoia Mountain Eco-Museum
Spread over several municipalities in the area of the Pistoia Mountain, the eco-museum tells stories of people related to this environment, offering itineraries, workshops and experiments.
The centre of the museum is the 16th-century Achilli Palace in the medieval village of Gavinana, with its rooms and documentation.
The Nature route passes through the Abetone Forest Botanical Garden, with a didactic pole in Fontana Vaccaia, the MuNAP – Museo Naturalista Archeologico degli Appennino di Pistoie – in Gavinana with animals, rocks, minerals and fossils.
The Daily life itinerary focuses on ancient trades and activities, with the Museum of the People of the Apennines in Pistoia in Rivoreta, in Orsigna with the Via della Castagna e del Carbone (the Chestnut and Coal route), along the way a dryer or a mill.
The Sacred Art itinerary focuses on religion with the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art in Popiglio, which is housed in an oratory and a Romanesque church. It has many objects such as furniture, sculpture, jewelry and paintings. The Centre d’Art Sacré et de Religiosité Populaire also preserves ancient looms.
The path dedicated to Iron explores the forges that benefited from the abundance of wood and water, at least since the fourteenth century, the first steelworks including that of Maresca active from the fourteenth century until 1980. The Iron Museum is located in Pontepetri. The Renewable Energy Garden has two water wheels in working order.
One itinerary is dedicated to Ice and its natural production in the mountains, from the 18th to 20th century, with the Ghiacciaia della Madonnina ice-house at Le Piastre.
One itinerary is dedicated to the Pierre, including the Via Francesca della Sambuca, a medieval pilgrimage route that leads from the hamlet of Pavana to the old fortified town of Sambuca Castello. In the latter, the Didactic Centre of Stone exhibits tools and objects from ancient stonemasons. In Marliana, the remains of the 10th century church of Pieve di Furfalo are found in the woods.
Proposal for guided tours and others
Map of the surroundings of Pistoia
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Sources and links
- General informations : it.wikipedia.org
- Tourist portals on the surroundings of Pistoia : www.visittuscany.com
- Villa La Magia : www.visittuscany.com
- Ecomuseum of the Pistoia Mountains : www.ecomuseopt.it, www.visittuscany.com
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