Explorations of a gorgeous medieval Tuscan city.
Northwest of Florence, Pistoia has a lovely medieval city center and a gorgeous cathedral. It’s a fairly typical Tuscan city, but that doesn’t mean its not special. It’s Tuscany after all.
I arrived on a Sunday, market day. The main streets and plazas were full of vendors. However, by lunchtime they all vanished like nothing happened. I went into a museum and came out to not a single market stall. So, I ran around getting new photos of everything. Therefore, below is the places I visited in order, but not the photos.
Wandering Jana Very Tuscany.
Wandering Jana It looks like the building on the right used to be larger. The facade on the left looks older and same ground floor facade. Confusing.
Wandering Jana Piazza della Sala, where you will find the fruits and vegetables on market day.
Wandering Jana San Bartolomeo, an 8th century church that was later renovated in the 12th century to its current Romanesque style.
Wandering Jana Traces of frescoes were found on the walls during the mid-20th century renovation. The church may have been brightly colored at one point.
Wandering Jana Fresco remnants.
Wandering Jana A very elaborate pulpit.
Wandering Jana San Giovanni Fuoricivitas and its absolutely stunning Romanesque facade. The date of the current appearance of the church is somewhere in 12th-14th centuries.
Wandering Jana This church has 13th century frescoes and a giant pulpit. Many of the churches in Pistoia had giant altars like this one.
Wandering Jana Cattedrale di San Zeno and its giant bell tower.
Wandering Jana Gorgeous Romanesque front.
Wandering Jana The cathedral is a cross between Romanesque and Baroque. Interesting combination.
Wandering Jana Love the painted wood ceiling and the bits of fresco that have survived.
Wandering Jana That’s one very elaborate baptismal font.
Wandering Jana A pop of Baroque in the sanctuary.
Wandering Jana Back outside in the Piazza del Duomo, where you can find the Gothic Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte from the 14th century opposite from the cathedral.
Wandering Jana More of the piazza after the market disappeared.
Wandering Jana The adorable Piazzetta Spirito Santo, with the giant dome of the Basilica della Madonna dell’Umiltà in the distance.
Wandering Jana Another gorgeous Romanesque church, Sant’Andrea Apostolo.
Wandering Jana Gorgeous facade.
Wandering Jana Oh, look! Another giant pulpit.
Wandering Jana An elaborate one, too.
Wandering Jana San Francesco, a 14th century church with a later facade.
Wandering Jana The front of the church reminds me of a couple of churches in Florence.
Wandering Jana Some of the little chapels were elaborately decorated in frescoes.
Wandering Jana A very yellow tower house.
Wandering Jana People come from all over the area to check out Pistoia’s famous Sunday market.
Wandering Jana Santi Prospero e Filippo, a very lovely random find.
Wandering Jana Neatest part of the church was the apse with a second floor viewing area. It was a bit unexpected.
Wandering Jana Love those warm colors.
Wandering Jana Finally made it to the Basilica della Madonna dell’Umiltà, the owner of the big dome. This church has a very odd layout. This is the back of the church. To the left is the main church area.
Wandering Jana A multi-sided church with a giant dome. Also, very hard to photograph.
Wandering Jana Flowers, anyone?
Wandering Jana I can’t explain why this gorgeous medieval building is now a store. Seems too churchy.
Wandering Jana Museo dello Spedale del Ceppo, which is in a former 13th century hospital.
Wandering Jana The gorgeous frieze is from the early 16th century. It’s been mostly restored except for the panel on the right. The frieze shows the seven works of mercy.
Wandering Jana The museum has collections of antique medical equipment. The main feature is the still complete anatomy theater from the 1780s. Cadavers would be dissected on the marble table as the students watched.
Wandering Jana Palazzo della Cassa di Risparmio. I just thought it looks neat.
Wandering Jana More warm colors.
Wandering Jana It’s hard to tell that just a couple of hours before I took this photo, this street was full of market stalls.
Pistoia was a very neat city. There is plenty to do here, from museums to churches. Pistoia is a perfect place to get the experience of a Tuscan city without all of Florence’s crowds.
Check out my next update where I explore the Northern Italian city of Ferrara!
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Start at the beginning of this adventure.
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