Comune in Tuscany, Italy
Pistoia
(
,
[3]
[4]
Italian:
[pis?toːja]
ⓘ
[5]
) is a city and
comune
in the
Italian
region of
Tuscany
, the capital of a
province of the same name
, located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) west and north of
Florence
and is crossed by the
Ombrone Pistoiese
, a tributary of the River
Arno
. It is a typical Italian medieval city, and it attracts many tourists, especially in the summer. The city is famous throughout Europe for its
plant nurseries
.
History
[
edit
]
Pistoria
(in
Latin
other possible forms are
Pistorium
or
Pistoriae
) was a centre of
Gallic
,
Ligurian
and
Etruscan
settlements before becoming a
Roman
colony
in the 6th century BC, along the important road
Via Cassia
: in 62 BC the
demagogue
Catiline
and his fellow conspirators were slain nearby. From the 5th century the city was a bishopric, and during the
Lombardic
kingdom it was a royal city and had several privileges. Pistoia's most splendid age began in 1177 when it proclaimed itself a
free commune
: in the following years it became an important political centre, erecting walls and several public and religious buildings.
In 1254 the
Ghibelline
town of Pistoia was conquered by the
Guelph
Florence; this did not pacify the town, but led to marked civil violence between "Black" and "White" Guelph factions, pitting different noble families against one another. In the
Inferno
of
Dante
, we encounter a particularly violent member of the Black faction of Pistoia,
Vanni Fucci
, tangled up in a knot of snakes while cursing God, who states:
(I am a) beast and Pistoia my worthy lair
. Pistoia remained a Florentine holding except for a brief period in the 14th century, when a former abbott,
Ormanno Tedici
, became Lord of the city. This did not last long, since his nephew Filippo sold the town to
Castruccio Castracani
of
Lucca
. The town was officially annexed to
Florence
in 1530.
One of the most famous families of the city was that of the
Rospigliosi
, owners of agricultural estates and wool merchants; the Rospigliosi provided a pope in 1667 with Giulio Rospigliosi, who briefly reigned as
Clement IX
(1667?69), and gave several cardinals to the church.
In 1786 a famous
Jansenist
episcopal synod
was convened in Pistoia.
According to one theory, Pistoia lent its name to the
pistol
,
[6]
which started to be manufactured in Pistoia during the 16th century. But today, it is also notable for the extensive
plant nurseries
spreading around it. Consequently, Pistoia is also famous for its flower markets, as is the nearby
Pescia
.
Geography
[
edit
]
Pistoia borders with the municipalities of
Agliana
,
Alto Reno Terme
,
Cantagallo
,
Lizzano in Belvedere
,
Marliana
,
Montale
,
Quarrata
,
Sambuca Pistoiese
,
San Marcello Piteglio
and
Serravalle Pistoiese
.
[7]
A panoramic view of Pistoia from the northwest.
Government
[
edit
]
Frazioni
(Districts)
[
edit
]
Name
|
Population
|
Sant'Agostino
|
|
Sant'Alessio in Bigiano
|
|
Badia a Pacciana
|
|
Baggio
|
|
Villa di Baggio
|
|
Bargi
|
|
Barile
|
|
San Biagio
|
|
Bonelle
|
|
Bottegone
|
6.000
|
Campiglio
|
|
Canapale
|
|
Candeglia
|
|
Capostrada
|
|
Castagno di Piteccio
|
|
Gello
|
|
Germinaia
|
|
Le Grazie
|
|
Chiazzano
|
|
Chiesina Montalese
|
|
Chiodo
|
|
Cignano
|
|
Cireglio
|
|
Collina
|
|
Corsini Bianchi
|
|
Corsini Neri
|
|
Fabbrica
|
|
San Felice
|
|
Le Fornaci
|
|
Lupicciano
|
|
Masiano
|
|
Casa Nuove di Masiano
|
|
Masotti
|
|
San Momme
|
177
|
Nespolo
|
|
Orsigna
|
|
Piazza
|
|
San Pierino Casa al Vescovo
|
|
Piestro
|
|
Piteccio
|
|
Piuvica
|
|
Pontelungo
|
|
Pontenuovo
|
|
Pracchia
|
268
|
Pupigliana
|
|
Ramini
[
it
]
|
|
San Rocco
|
|
Santomato
|
|
Saturnana
|
|
Spazzavento
|
|
Sazzana
|
|
Torbecchia
|
|
Valdibrana
|
|
Villanova di Valdibrana
|
|
Vicofaro
|
|
Culture
[
edit
]
- Literature
In
Anatole France
's novel
The Wicker-Work Woman
,
the Ospedale del Cappo in Pistoia is mentioned for its "vigor and truth" depicted on the "frieze of painted terracotta that surrounds the hospital".
- Cinema
Pistoia has been a setting for numerous works of fiction and movies, including films, such as
I Love You in All the Languages in the World
,
Amici miei
, and
Medici: Masters of Florence
.
- Music
- Pistoia Blues
, an international music festival held since 1980. It is one of the most important European blues festivals. Artists such as
B.B. King
,
[8]
Bob Dylan
and
David Bowie
have attended and performed at the festival.
- Giostra dell'Orso
("Joust of the Bear"), a ceremony that is mentioned even in a chronicle dating back to 1300, when a dozen riders organized a ritual combat against a bear. Despite many changes, this traditional ceremony was staged every year until 1666, when the abandonment was recorded by the ritual celebration of the people. It was restarted in 1947, and takes place on July 25.
Main sights
[
edit
]
Although less visited than other cities in
Tuscany
, the medieval city within Pistoia's old walls is charming and well-preserved.
Piazza del Duomo
[
edit
]
The large
Piazza del Duomo
, dominated by the cathedral, is lined with other medieval buildings, such as the
Palazzo del Comune
and the
Palazzo del
Podesta
: it is the setting (in July) of the
Giostra dell'Orso
("Bear Joust"), when the best horsemen of the city's traditional quarters tilt with lances at a target held up by a dummy shaped like a
bear
.
The original
Cathedral of San Zeno
(5th century) burned down in 1108, but was rebuilt during the 12th century, and received incremental improvements until the 17th century. The facade has a prominent
Romanesque
style, while the interior received heavy
Baroque
additions which were removed during the 1960s. Its outstanding feature is the
Altar of St James
, an exemplar of the
silversmith
's craft begun in 1287 but not finished until the 15th century. Its various sections contain 628 figures, the total weighing nearly a ton. The Romanesque belfry, standing at some 67 metres (220 ft), was erected over an ancient
Lombard
tower.
In the square is also the 14th-century
Baptistry
, in
Gothic
style, with white and green striped marble revetment characteristic of the Tuscan Gothic.
The
Palazzo dei Vescovi
("Bishops' Palace"), is characterized by a Gothic
loggiato
on the first floor. It is known from 1091, initially as a fortified noble residence. In the 12th century it received a more decorated appearance, with
mullioned windows
and frescoes, of which traces remain. It was later modified in the mid-12th century (when the St. James Chapel, mentioned by
Dante Alighieri
in the XXIV canto of his
Inferno
) and in the 13th century; to the latter restoration belongs the white marble-decorated staircase, one of the most ancient examples in Italy in civil architecture. In the 14th century, the Chapel of St. Nicholas was decorated with stories of the namesake saint and other martyrs.
The Tower of Catilina dates to the High Middle Ages, and stands 30 metres (98 ft) high.
Religious buildings
[
edit
]
- Basilica of Our Lady of Humility
(Madonna dell'Umilta
) (1509), finished by
Giorgio Vasari
with a 59-metre (194 ft) high cupola. The original project was by
Giuliano da Sangallo
, but works were begun in 1495 by
Ventura Vitoni
. The dome was commissioned by
Cosimo I de' Medici
to Vasari, the lantern completed in 1568 and the church consecrated in 1582. In the apse is a painting by Bernardino del Signoraccio (1493).
- Santissima Annunziata
, Baroque former church known for its Chiostro dei Morti ("Cloister of the Dead").
- San Bartolomeo in Pantano
(12th century).
- San Giovanni Battista
(15th century). Damaged during World War II bombardments, it is now used as an exhibition center.
- San Giovanni Battista al Tempio
(11th century), owned for a while by the
Knights Templar
and then by the
Hospitaller
Knights.
- San Benedetto
(14th century, restored in 1630). It houses an
Annunciation
(1390) by
Giovanni di Bartolomeo Cristiani
, a
St Benedict with the Redeemer
(16th-century) by Florentine painter, and in the cloister
Histories of the Order of the Knights of St Benedict
by
Giovan Battista Vanni
(1660).
- San Domenico
.
- San Francesco
(begun 1289). Franciscan church has an unfinished facade with bichrome marble decoration. It has frescoes with
Histories of St. Francis
in the main chapel and other 14th?15th century frescoes.
- San Giovanni Fuoricivitas
(12th?14th century), Romanesque church
- San Leone
(14th century) church enlarged in the 16th?18th centuries. Its Baroque-Roccoco interior houses some notable canvases by
Giovanni Lanfranco
,
Stefano Marucelli
and
Vincenzo Meucci
.
- Santa Maria delle Grazie, Pistoia
- Santa Maria in Ripalta
(11th century). It houses a large
Ascent of Christ
fresco in the apse, attributed to
Manfredino d'Alberto
(1274).
- San Paolo
.
- San Pier Maggiore
.
- Pieve di Sant'Andrea
, housing
Giovanni Pisano
's
Pulpit of St. Andrew
.
- Pieve of San Michele in Groppoli
, ancient chapel now parish church.
- La Vergine
.
Others
[
edit
]
- The 14th-century walls. These had originally four gates, Porta al Borgo, Porta San Marco, Porta Carratica and Porta Lucchese, all demolished at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Ospedale del Ceppo
(13th century).
- Palazzo Panciatichi
- Medici Fortress of Santa Barbara
, built at first in 1331 by the Florentines, but destroyed by the Pistoiese citizens in 1343. It was rebuilt by order of Cosimo I de' Medici from 1539, and later enlarged by
Bernardo Buontalenti
. It sustained one single siege by the
Barberini
troops in 1643, before being disarmed by
Grand Duke Peter Leopold
in 1734. Later it was used as a barracks and military jail, while today it serves as a venue for cinema shows during the summer.
- Accademia dei Risvegliati
- Palazzo Rospigliosi, Pistoia
- Monument in Honour of Brazilians
(Soldiers and Pilots) killed in action during
Italian Campaign
of
World War II
- Brazilian Military Cemetery of Pistoia
Sport
[
edit
]
- Football
The city's football team
US Pistoiese 1921
plays in Serie D, the fourth flight of Italian football.
- Basketball
The city's basketball team
Pistoia Basket 2000
plays in
Serie A1
.
Transportation
[
edit
]
Buses
[
edit
]
Consorzio Pistoiese Trasporti
, also known as
COPIT
, was a company that operated since 1969 the local public transport in Pistoia and in its
province
. It was transformed as
Societa per azioni
in 2000 with private and public capital, mainly by the fifteen
Comuni
, where operated and 30% by
CTT Nord
. Since 2005 made part in two consortium:
BluBus
and
PiuBus
, the first operated in the
Province of Pistoia
and the other in the
Empoli
area.
[9]
Since 1 November 2021 the public local transport is managed by
Autolinee Toscane
.
[10]
Train
[
edit
]
The
railway station
is located on the
Viareggio?Florence railway
and it is at the southern end of the
Porrettana railway
, the original line between Florence and
Bologna
.
Notable residents
[
edit
]
International relations
[
edit
]
Twin towns - sister cities
[
edit
]
Pistoia is twinned with:
[11]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
Sources
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Pistoia
.
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