Trip Tuscany

San Zeno Cathedral is located in Piazza del Duomo ( Dome Square ).

The Cathedral is one of the monuments / buildings you shouldn’t miss if you’re spending a holiday in Pistoia.

Its facade is in romanesque style like several other churches in the city that were built in the same historical period. ( Sant’Andrea and San Bartolomeo ).

San Zeno Cathedral and San Jacopo are the two patron saints, indeed their statues can be found at the top of the facade.

The Cathedral has three naves and was built during the tenth century. Later it has been modified multiple times and in the restoration that took place between 1952 and 1956 it has been brought back to it’s originary aspect. The restoration has been completed in 1999.

The Cathedral is in the centra Piazza del Duomo hence it can be easily reached from every corner of the city.

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Although not as visited as other towns in Tuscany like Florence and Siena, mostly due to the industrial environs, Pistoia presents a very well preserved and charming medieval city inside the old city walls.

The large Piazza del Duomo is lined with original buildings as the Palazzo del Podestà  and the Palazzo del Comune: it is the setting during the month of July of the Giostra dell’Orso ( “Bear Joust” ), when the best horsemen of the several districts of the town 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 following 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 m, was erected over an ancient Lombard tower.

In the square is also the 14th century Baptistry, in Gothic style, with white-green marble decorations.

The Palazzo dei Vescovi (”Bishops’ Palace”) is characterized by a Gothic loggiato at the first floor. The Tower of Catilina is from the High Middle Ages, and stands 30 m high.

More information about Piazza del Duomo, Pistoia

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The hotel Villa Cappugi offers a refined tuscan atmosphere. It is a new construction and  it is situated in its magnificent park between the ancient hystorical city and the gentle hills that surround  Pistoia.

From the hotel you can easily reach every part of Tuscany, thanks to its position near to the most important motorways in Tuscany: indeed It is an excellent starting point for tourist and cultural excursions all over the region.

The Hotel Villa Cappugi in Pistoia has 70 rooms: 40 classic, 16 superiors, 8 executives, 6 suites and 3 apartments. The hotel was opened in September 2006.

Moreover you’ll find: conference center, restaurant, swimming pool, tennis and soccer fields and banqueting.

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In Pistoia you have a lot of options when you’re choosing a hotel.

Il Convento Hotel in Pistoia was recently remodeled and decorated: before being a hotel it was an ancient Franciscan Monastery.

The monastery has been transformed into a hotel in the Seventies.

There are thirty-two rooms, all have a tub tub or shower, air conditioning system, private bathrooms, TV, pay-TV, safe, direct-line phone to connect to the internet and mini-bar.

The facility is completed by the restaurant derived from the cells surrounding the cloister and the former monk’s refectory, including the original refectory tables.

Staying at Il Convento Hotel in Pistoia will be an awesome and out of the ordinary experience.

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Pistoia is an excellent choice as a base for your vacation in Tuscany.

Booking a Hotel in Pistoia you’re just 30 minutes away from Florence by train and 1 hour 30 minutes from Siena by car, and you have direct access to the main Motorway in Tuscany (not considering the A1 that goes from Milan to Naples). This motorway connects Florence to the Tyrrhenian Sea via Prato, Pistoia, Lucca and Pisa and is the straight link between the  two main airports in Tuscany (Florence FLR Airport and Pisa PSA Airport).

Pistoia lies exactly on the motorway that connects Florence to Pisa.

Moreover there’s a train line that follow this motorway for all it’s length from Florence to Pisa so you really don’t have to worry if you decide to stay in Pistoia and have day trips in Tuscany.

If you’re looking for budget hotels in Pistoia visit this list of cheap Hotels in Pistoia, Tuscany. You’ll find plenty of good hotels for cheap prices. Pistoia is an excellent solution to visit Tuscany avoiding to get stuck in Florence traffic and saving on accommodation.

Pistoia is located about 30 km north west of Florence making it the absolute best base point to explore the Appennine Mountains for a day hike, eating our at some Agritourism (you’ll find plenty of agritourisms on the hills and mountains surrounding Pistoia) or visiting Abetone, the most important winter resort of the Appennines. It’ll take one hour to get to Abetone from Pistoia.

Eating out at an Agritourism in Tuscany at night during summer will make you experience the relaxing aspect of Tuscany that you’re used to see: sunsets, hospitality and nature at its fullest. You can’t miss this.

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Pistoia Zoo

Pistoia Zoological Gardens have been created in 1970 thanks to the initiative of Raffaello Galardini.

The zoo is located in the peaceful hills around Pistoia laying on a 75,000m² area and hosts over 600 animals: 30 of reptiles, about 65 species of mammals and 40 species of birds.

Despite Pistoia is rather hot in summer, you’ll find a polar bear waiting for you together with jaguars, giraffes, elephants, pythons, monkeys and many other species.

There are plans to make the Zoo of Pistoia a leading conservation centre for endangered species and for natural studies.

Reaching the Zoo is easy:

By BUS: from Pistoia take line 29 and you’ll get to the Zoon in about 15 minutes.

By TAXI: from Pistoia train station it should take approximately 10 minutes or less. Pistoia taxi phone number is 0573 - 534444

By CAR: Exit from A11 highway at Pistoia, after the pay-booth go straight on the bridge, enter the city ring and exit at Pistoia Ovest. Follow the signs for ‘Giardino Zoologico - Zoo’. About 10 minutes from the highway.

If you have a GPS system but it doesn’t have the Zoo among the Points of Interest set your destination to: Via Pieve a Celle 160 51030 Pistoia

Pistoia Zoological Gardens

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