Hello! We're traveling between Chianti and Viareggio at the end of August. As the check-out from the first location is at 10am and the check-in isn't until 5pm in the second, we'll have to leave luggage in the car. I'm thinking of stopping in Pistoia on the way. As there are 4 of us, I'm not sure we'll be able to hide everything. Is Pistoia relatively safe? I understand that nowhere is completely safe, but compared to say Lucca or Florence, are we a bit safer leaving things in the car for a few hours in Pistoia?
Posted by
east haven, ct
365 posts
Check out Montecatini just west oF Pistoia. It’s a better option
Ciao
Lorie
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16167 posts
If you want to visit Pistoia, parking the car in Montecatini would make no sense. No place in the world is safe but the Province of Pistoia is 38th in the ranking of thefts per 100,000 people, out of the 110 Italian provinces. Florence is no. 5 and Lucca is no. 22. So the statistics confirm that Pistoia is safer than both the cities you mentioned. Italy keeps statistics by Province and since Montecatini is in the same Province of Pistoia I don’t have a breakdown of both. Since, as a general rule, the bigger the city the higher the crime rate, I suppose Montecatini, with only 20,000 residents should be safer than Pistoia which has almost 100,000. Nevertheless no matter where you decide to go, I wouldn’t leave valuables in the car unless it is a parking garage that is closely guarded, not even in Beverly Hills. What’s there to see in Montecatini anyhow? It’s a spa resort town. Pistoia has plenty of nice things to visit.
Posted by
Calgary, AB
155 posts
Is there a particular reason that you want to stop for 4 or 5 hours halfway along the route? Otherwise why not ask to leave your luggage where you’re staying at either end. Most places have a place to store your luggage until a room is ready.
Posted by
east haven, ct
365 posts
Julie My advise was to forgo Pistoia and go to Montecatini. Not park in Montecatini and go to Pistoia. It’s is charming little town. Meander have lunch then proceed to your accommodations.
Lorie
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
564 posts
As said above, no place is completely safe. In general a robbery is much less probable in a guarded parking lot, a closed one, than leave the car on the street. Of course is more expensive, but if you leave the car in a closed garage 99% nothing happens. Watching on Google there is Lingottino, Amendola, San Pietro just near the historical center, so several solutions.
In general in Italy thieves broke cars to steal everything mainly in big parking lots, like malls or large streets. Is easier find the car broken when you stop along the highway than in a city center. For thieves a place from where you can fly in a minute is much better, that a narrow alley of an historical downtown with a lot of people around.
How different we are: an Italian never suggest Montecatini instead of Pistoia or other historical city!
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth, NH
29 posts
Thank you all for the replies/advice! It's very useful. As Pistoia is high on my list of places to visit, and is on the way to Viareggio, I'll plan to stop by and use your advice for parking, as it sounds like a fairly safe place. I appreciate you all!