Pistoia - Another Tuscan town to add to your visit list next year.

That's great, Roberto. In 2013, first trip to Italy my then 25/20 yr old nephews took the train from Florence to Pistoia to play the disk golf course there. They were novices at Italian train travel and managed fine. The people at the disk golf place were awesome to them and they had a great day! I am pretty sure they missed all the cultural highlights of the area though. (Do not under any circumstances ask ~WHY~ they had to play disk golf....)

Thanks for the info Roberto

Thanks for posting this Roberto. When recommending towns in Tuscany to visit from Florence I often forget to mention Pistoia. I visited there on my first trip to Italy back in '98. I was on a tour sponsored by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts called 'the art and architecture of Tuscany'. I especially enjoyed Pistoia and the neighboring town of Prato for the della Robbia sculptures/friezes there. I fell in love with these colorful ceramic and glazed terra cotta sculptures on the buildings and in the cathedrals in these two towns. I know neither of these towns are mentioned much on this forum so are often forgotten.

Our family has been connected with Pistoia for more than 50 years, when my in-laws (american poet and singer) bought a farmhouse in a mountain village above the city. We love Pistoia as it has all the beauty, architecture, art and culture of a mediaeval Tuscan city, without being mobbed by tourists as it gets overshadowed by Florence, Lucca, Pisa and Sienna. Pistoia has been described as the "hidden jewel in Tuscany's crown" and really deserves this award! Thanks for sharing this news. And if you want to stay in an idyllic mountain farmhouse, we have restored a neighbouring house and offer it at very reasonable rates: http://larocchina.wordpress.com
Jethro