Pistoia
Pistoia | |
---|---|
Città di Pistoia | |
St. Jacopo | |
Saint day | July 25 |
Website | Official website |
Pistoia (US: /pɪˈstɔɪə, piːˈstoʊjɑː/,[3][4] Italian: [pisˈtoːja] ⓘ[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
Pistoria (in
In 1254 the
in 1530.One of the most famous families of the city was that of the
In 1786 a famous
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
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]
Government
Frazioni (Districts)
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 Mommè | 177 |
Nespolo | |
Orsigna | |
Piazza | |
San Pierino Casa al Vescovo | |
Piestro | |
Piteccio | |
Piuvica | |
Pontelungo | |
Pontenuovo | |
Pracchia | 268 |
Pupigliana | |
Ramini | |
San Rocco | |
Santomato | |
Saturnana | |
Spazzavento | |
Sazzana | |
Torbecchia | |
Valdibrana | |
Villanova di Valdibrana | |
Vicofaro |
Culture
- 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
- Music
- Pistoia Blues, an international music festival held since 1980. It is one of the most important European blues festivals. Artists such as 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
Although less visited than other cities in Tuscany, the medieval city within Pistoia's old walls is charming and well-preserved.
Piazza del Duomo
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 Podestà: 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
In the square is also the 14th-century
The Palazzo dei Vescovi ("Bishops' Palace"), is characterized by a Gothic
The Tower of Catilina dates to the High Middle Ages, and stands 30 metres (98 ft) high.
Religious buildings
- Basilica of Our Lady of Humility (Madonna dell'Umiltà) (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' Medicito 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 Giovan Battista Vanni(1660).
- San Domenico.
- San Francesco (begun 1289). Franciscan church has an unfinished façade 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
- Manfredino d'Alberto(1274).
- San Paolo.
- San Pier Maggiore.
- Pulpit of St. Andrew.
- Pieve of San Michele in Groppoli, ancient chapel now parish church.
- La Vergine.
Others
- 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 Grand Duke Peter Leopoldin 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
- 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
Buses
Consorzio Pistoiese Trasporti, also known as COPIT, was a company that operated since 1969 the local public transport in Pistoia and in its
Since 1 November 2021 the public local transport is managed by Autolinee Toscane.[10]
Train
The
Notable residents
- Meo Abbracciavacca, 14th century poet
- Enrico Betti
- Mauro Bolognini, film director
- Giosuè Carducci
- Cino da Pistoia
- Pope Clement IX
- Ippolito Desideri
- Renato Fondi
- Niccolò Fortiguerra
- Vanni Fucci, fictional character
- Licio Gelli
- Lodovico Giustini
- Marino Marini
- Giovanni Michelucci
- Maria Maddalena Morelli
- Filippo Pacini
- Kobe Bryant
International relations
Twin towns - sister cities
Pistoia is twinned with:[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Pistoia". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ "Pistoia". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ Canepari, Luciano. "Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ Online Etymology Dictionary
- ^ 42722 Pistoia on OpenStreetMap
- ^ "Pistoia Blues" on lonelyplanet.com
- ^ "Direzione Uffici". CTT Nord. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Guida al primo giorno di servizio". Autolinee Toscane. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Pistoia". italien.de (in German). Italien.de. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
Sources
- New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1967.