Pistoia And Its Province, Art, Thermal Baths, Nature, Sports And Gastronomy

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. October 14, 2008

PISTOIA, Italy, September 2, 2005. Dating back to Roman times, Pistoia is a paradise for those who love art and tradition. Poets and writers have long exalted its charm, calling it "the city of enchanted stone" and "the city of wide streets and beautiful churches."

In fact, the centre of the city offers streets rich with churches, cloisters, palaces and monuments that date as far back as Medieval times and encircle one of the most fascinating cathedral squares in Italy. Near the city there are small towns, parish churches and castles of extraordinary beauty.

Then there is the zoological garden immersed in the green valleys of Vincio, and a most unusual "Eco-museum" that offers ecological and cultural itineraries for travel through the mountains.

For music lovers, Pistoia's annual celebration is not to be missed: the famous Blues Festival held each summer in the cathedral square, featuring musicians like John Mayall, B.B. King and Bob Dylan. Those preferring folklore can stop and admire the "giostra dell'orso", a re-enactment of a Medieval tournament in period costume. Both events occur in July, during the "Luglio Pistoiese".

As for shopping, nothing could be easier. Besides tourism, Pistoia's main economic attractions are its handicrafts and plant nurseries. Known for its train and bus systems, planned and built by the Breda Railway Company, the city is famous for its many acres of planting beds, filled with decorative trees, shrubbery and flowers, as well as for its shops filled with home linens and clothing and such unique products as hand-cast percussion cymbals and embroidery using the Casalguidi point stitch.

Montecatini Terme

Thermal baths, flowers, fairytales... Near the major art centers of Tuscany, Valdinievole is an enchanted valley rich with suggestion. At its center, the city of Montecatini Terme glistens like a small liberty-style pearl. Town Hall is a fine example of this style, as are the cafes and the city's natural thermal bath centres. The warm waters of the baths are known for their therapeutic qualities, and can be enjoyed in a health center offering the most advanced esthetic beauty and general well-being methodologies.

Montecatini is a vital center for business and professional conferences where, during free time, one can relax on the golf course or cheer on the horses at the racetrack in Sesana. The caves of Monsummano also provide thermal bath cures, and the ancient villages that dot the surrounding area offer tours combining both art and nature. The fairy-tale park of Collodi, home of Pinocchio, is among the many places to visit. Not to be missed are the marshes of Fucecchio, with their vast stretches of trees, canals and reed thickets, where herons burst into sudden flight. Another interesting stop is the historical city of Pescia, known throughout Europe as the center of floral and plant nurseries. Pescia's biennial flower exhibition presents the finest landscapes, displaying the latest techniques in their field. For tradition lovers, however, one can find the paper museum, much sought-after for the prints and volumes of enormous value.

Sport

Fishing, canoeing, hiking, mountain bicycle riding, horseback riding, parachuting, skiing, golfing: in Pistoia sport and nature go hand in hand.

In fact the mountains of Pistoia are perfect for enjoying a favorite sport immersed in the kind of scenic beauty that brings a fresh sense of health and tranquility, restoring both mind and body.

Its mountain streams are so numerous and beckoning that it's not by chance that the Pistoia Apennines were the site of the first world championships of stream trout fishing. These same streams are perfect for canoeing, while the many paths through the forests and preserves, and to the shores of enchanting small lakes, are well travelled by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. For those who prefer winter sports, there are 50 kilometers of snowy slopes, made famous by champions of the past such as Zeno Col`o and Celina Seghi. Throughout the whole territory one can find soccer fields, tennis and volleyball courts, skating rinks and swimming pools as well as bocce courts-italian bowling lanes-and motorcycle tracks. Montecatini offers a well-known horse-race track and an excellent golf course.

Gastronomy

An ideal place for food lovers, Pistoia and its environs offer specialties to satisfy the most demanding palate. Renowned is the chocolate produced by master artisans of the province and the "curly" white candies whose origins date to Medieval times. No one should leave without trying two varieties of cookies whose flavors are unique, and typical of the Valdinievole area: brigidini and cialde.

Grappa and other spirits, as well as marmelades and jams, are made by the artisanal businesses in the mountains, using the produce of the surrounding forests and feilds. Take a few moments to try the sheep's milk cheese that is exclusively produced here, and sample the crusty breads fresh from wood-burning stoves. From the same mountains come chestnuts, whose flour has been used in delicious cakes and sweets like "castagnaccio" "necci" and "frittelle", for as long as one can remember.

The cuisine of Pistoia is, like all of the tastes of Tuscany, tied to the culture of the countryman. The list of specialties that come from the past is made up of singular names: the "carcerato", the "biroldo", the "rigaglia", the "cioncia" but one can also enjoy soups with a bread and vegetable base, or a kind of macaroni with duck sauce called "tacconi alla pistoiese." And then there are beans of Sorana, olive oil and wine from Montalbano... all to savor.