Two days in Pistoia, Tuscany - Day One

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Two days in Pistoia, Tuscany - Day One

I had heard a whisper that Pistoia was worth a visit so on a free day in Tuscany I set off to find out if this was true. On arrival it seemed the town was sleeping and I asked the one passer-by I encountered between the centre and the station if I was going in the right direction for the old town. I had heard a whisper that Pistoia was worth a visit so on a free day in Tuscany I set off to find out if this was true. On arrival it seemed the town was sleeping and I asked the one passer-by I encountered between the centre and the station if I was going in the right direction for the old town. He assured me I was and soon after I was re-assured by the sight of a portion of the old city walls protruding into the street I felt a tingle of excitement. I love city walls as they always have something worth protecting behind them. Further along the street I found a building with an amazing exterior that resembled a chess board awaiting its players. This must be the cathedral.
Chiesa di San Giovanni Fuorcivitas in Pistoia Tuscany
It was not, it was the Chiesa di San Giovanni Fuorcivitas so-called because when its construction began it was outside the city walls. I went inside to have a look around and found a comparatively simple interior splashed with pools of sunlight one of which lit up a pretty white font.
The font in Chiesa di San Giovanni Fuorcivitas in Pistoia in Tuscany, Italy
After some speculation regarding how the priest could get up into the elaborate pulpit of Fra ‘Guglielmo da Pisa, I left.
Pulpit of Fra 'Guglielmo da Pisa in Chiesa di San Giovanni Fuorcivitas in Pistoia in Tuscany, Italy
I found some fruit and vegetable stalls of the daily market in the Piazza della Sala which has been its home since time immemorial. I had to stop to admire the mounds of luscious fruit.
Daily fruit, vegetable and flower market  in Pistoia, Tuscany
And the beautiful blooms spread across the cobbles.
Flowers in the daily market in Pistoia Tuscany
Entering the Piazza del Duomo I knew I had found the treasures I had been seeking as I was surrounded by some architectural gems. These included the duomo di San Zeno (cathedral) itself. It was built during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries on the site of a fifth-century church but its facade, with its seven-arched portico and three doorways, was not completed until 1311. The Carello di San Cappella di San Iácopo, accessed from the south aisle, is adorned with a silver masterpiece created over two centuries and displaying a succession of different styles from Early Gothic to Renaissance.
Il Duomo di San Zeno in Pistoia Tuscany
The sacristy of the cathedral leads into the Museo Capitolare (Cathedral Treasury) which was so full of riches that it is referred to by Dante in his Divine Comedy. Exhibits include the reliquaries of San Zeno and San Giacomo.
The back of the Museo Capitolare or Cathedral Treasury in Pistoia Tuscany, Ital
To the left of the cathedral is the campanile or bell tower which is sixty seven meters high and it is thought that the base may have been a Lombardian watch-tower.
Il Campanile del Duomo di San Zeno in Pistoia Tuscany
After appreciating the elegance of the Battistero di San Giovanni in Conte an octagonal gothic and especially its exquisite exterior of alternating bands of white and green marble it seemed appropriate to take a break at a café in the square to absorb my extraordinary surroundings.
Battistero in Pistoia, Tuscany
I had collected some information from the tourist information office which I thought may answer the question why such a small town was so rich in architectural treasures, particularly one that has for centuries was dominated by its neighbour and rival, Florence. Certainly over the centuries it has attracted a wealth of artists and architects and was, and still is, a flourishing centre for artisans. I had seen some stalls in the square that did not appear to be part of the market and my literature on the town informed me that they were part of an annual and unique anthropology festival Dialoghi sull’uomo. Pistoia also features other interesting festivals such as the Giostra dell’Orso -events/giostra-dell-orso.html which is held every year on 25 July. Twelve horsemen, three for each of the four districts of Pistoia compete against each other to win the “palio” (banner) by being the first to knocking down a bear shaped target using a lance. The winning horseman is awarded the “Sperone d’Oro” (Golden Spur). The Pistoia Blues has been held in Pistoia since 1980 and today it is one of the most important Blues music events in Italy and in Europe. Three days of top quality music fill the streets of the town centre. I also found a reference to a museum in the Palazzo del Comune the Museo Civico or Civic Museum. From the outside the building looked ordinary compared to its neighbours but the interior housed a real treat.
The entrance to the Museo Civico in Pistoia Palazzo del Comune of Pistoia in Tuscany
I spent a long time exploring all three floors which house an important collection of art work taking the visitor on an interesting journey through seven centuries of the artistic history of Pistoia. The exhibits were either donated or bought from churches and convents in the region. It was an amazing experience being able to wander at will amongst the precious exhibits and get close enough to the paintings to be able to examine the textures.
A work of art in he Museo Civico in the Palazzo del Comune  in Pistoia in Tuscany, Italy
When I eventually left the museum it was time to return to my hotel and I decided to take a different route to the station and wound my way through the back streets admiring churches and towers on my way. I was glad I had taken this route as I came across the Chiesa di San Paolo with beautiful frescoes on its exterior.
Beautiful frescoes on the exterior of Chiesa di San Paolo in Pistoia in Tuscany
Pistoia had certainly taken me by surprise and despite a day of serious sightseeing there was still so much to see. I would be back soon.
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Getting there
I have visited Tuscany and Pistoia several times on trips organised by Solos Holidays. We flew to Pisa with British Airways that operates flights from London Gatwick and London Heathrow. We were based in Hotel Biondi (http://www.montecatinihotelbiondi.it/) in Montecatini Terme (http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/aroundtuscany/montecatini-terme-what-to-see-and-do). This town is ideal for exploring Tuscany and there are regular trains to Pistoia every day.

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