Pistoia, city of culture for 2017, here are the things not to miss to say that you have seen this city so underrated but beautiful, read the posts.
The recent news made the inhabitants of Pistoia jump in their seats: the Tuscan city will be there capital of culture in 2017! Pistoia deserves this recognition, it is a small capital of art overshadowed by other Tuscan "big" ones. If you don't know it yet, 2017 will be a good time to put it on your list; for those who want to taste it even earlier, my 5 suggestions 5.
- Piazza del Duomo
The main square of the city is one of my favorites and one of the most beautiful, if not in Italy, in Tuscany. Like the whole city, it is characterized by imposing medieval buildings, built at the time of his power, before falling into the mesh of Florence. In Piazza del Duomo stands the Cathedral dedicated to San Zeno, a beautiful Romanesque church with a loggia of white and green marble. To the side the bell tower, very old and from whose top you can enjoy a beautiful view. On the other side of the square there is a beautiful Baptistery which was built in the 300th century and is dedicated to San Giovanni. Other buildings worth mentioning are the Palazzo dei Vescovi and the Palazzo del Comune. The whole is harmonious and majestic: a large square for a small city. - Hall Square
You will find it immediately behind the Baptistery and it will amaze you. La Sala is the not very large space of the city market, if you go in the morning discover all the liveliness and folklore of the fruit, vegetable and food stalls. On the perimeter of the square there are cafes, taverns, restaurants, or simple grocery stores equipped to make tasty sandwiches or serve you an aperitif. Already in the late afternoon the Hall is filled with tables and people and the best thing is that tourists can be counted on the fingers of the hand: the people in the square are from Pistoia, many know each other and greet each other, in a nice atmosphere of familiarity now irretrievably lost in the larger cities.
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- The Ceppo Hospital
Yes, the hospital that up to a few years hosted the sick citizens is located a few meters from the cathedral. Now that it no longer has to carry out its health function it is looking for a new identity, but it will probably become a cultural center for exhibitions. The most particular thing is the Della Robbia frieze that adorns the entire facade of the building. During last summer it was possible to climb on the scaffolding - in fact it was under restoration - and admire it up close, with its full-length glazed terracotta characters, fascinating in every detail.
Inquire about the possibility of seeing this beautiful bas-relief, in bright colors. Inside there is another small jewel: the Anatomical Theater, in neoclassical style, which was used to illustrate the lessons of the School of Anatomy. You can visit it by taking the Pistoia Underground path, in practice it re-emerges from an underground walkway under the city in this room. -
Pistoia Blues Morcheeba
- The San Giorgio Library
The new and large Civic Library is located outside the historic center, but very close to the railway station, in what was the industrial area of ​​Breda. This mechanical company is an important piece of the city's history and its warehouses, once production moved out of the city, have been intelligently recovered. The Library is arranged on three floors, the ground floor with the gallery is airy with a cafeteria, multimedia stations, an extraordinary colorful, cheerful and child-friendly space for children, the newspaper library and various open shelves. It is worth a visit, also because at the entrance a sort of permanent exhibition shows the history of Breda and Pistoia on various posters. - Festivals
Pistoia did not become the capital of culture by chance. At least two very important festivals take place in the city. The first is in late May and is called Dialogues on Man. For 3 days, many places in the city and the specially set up tents in Piazza del Duomo become forums for conferences and discussions on the most varied topics, the title of the 2016 edition that will take place from 27 to 29 May will be: Humanity at stake. Italian and international guests of great prestige participate, the meetings are almost all paid and crowded with the public.
The other festival is musical, has a considerable age, is well known: it is Pistoia Blues, summer appointment with the most interesting names on the international scene and not just blues. Pistoia Blues “plays” in Piazza Duomo, under the starry sky; but the whole center is filled with musicians, single or in groups, who offer impromptu shows to those present. The 2016 edition is scheduled for July 12-16 with Skunk Annasie, Damien Rice and others.
