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4 Reasons Why Pistoia, Tuscany Should be on Your Radar–
Reason 1 - ✨ Authentic in Every Way
Just think the perfect morning espresso at a family-run café, down quiet cobbled lanes. It’s authentic Tuscany without the crowds. Pistoia, often dubbed the “city of enchanted stone,” offers all the beauty of Tuscany’s renowned cities - but comes without the overwhelming onslaught of year-round tourists. From down-to-earth, small-town charm, to lively evening gatherings in the piazza, Pistoia encourages you to experience an authentic piece of Italy.
Reason 2 - 🌿 Proximity to Tuscany
Pistoia is a super convenient base for exploring wider Tuscany, and is strategically located between Florence and Pisa. Take short day trips or getaways to nearby historical Italian cities. Indulge in excellent wines at a picturesque Chianti vineyard and experience the exceptional Tuscan food scene. Plan a day trip to Florence, or visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa over a long weekend trip. Not forgetting the mountains which are also close, providing nature loving families walking and hiking opportunities.
Reason 3 - 👨👩👧👦 Family Focused
The locals are very welcoming, particularly towards families with children. There is a relaxed laid-back atmosphere, while the town centers and parks are the perfect place to meet interesting people. In short, Pistoia is ideal for family living. This combined with our Boundless Life Education Center, fully furnished family-friendly accommodations, and a fun international community, you've got a ready-made home away from home.
Reason 4 - 💻 Digital Nomad-Friendly
Italy's flexible visa options make Pistoia a smart choice for digital nomads with the ‘Visa for Remote Workers.’ Here, you can balance productive remote workdays with inspiring cultural adventures right outside your doorstep. Thinking more long-term, then the Italian Golden Visa might be the perfect fit for you and your family, offering investors an opportunity to make a more permanent move.
🗣️ Inquire Now ✨
Or read on below for a better understanding of Travel in Pistoia, Tuscany!
When to Visit Pistoia
Tuscany is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit Pistoia largely depends on your family’s preferences. Here’s a season-by-season breakdown:
🌸 Spring (April – June): This is arguably Pistoia at its best. The weather is pleasantly warm, the Tuscan countryside is green and in bloom, and the big summer tourist waves haven’t hit yet. Imagine picnics in parks and day trips to nearby villages – without the peak-season crowds. Spring temperatures hover in the 15-25°C range (60s-70s °F), ideal for exploring all day.
☀️ Summer (July – August): Summer is the high season in Tuscany, and while Pistoia is quieter than the likes of Florence, you will see an uptick in visitors. Temperatures can climb into the 30s °C (upper 80s °F), so plan some midday gelato. Still, with mountains nearby, you can always escape to cooler air – for example, the Abetone ski area becomes a hiking and nature haven in summer.
🍁 Autumn (September – November): Fall in Pistoia is another sweet spot. Early fall (September and early October) often retains summer’s warmth but with far fewer tourists around – a great time to visit for pleasant weather and thinner crowds. Vineyards and olive groves around Tuscany buzz with harvest activity, and foodies will love the season’s specialities. Temperatures in autumn range from about 25°C (77°F) in September down to 10-15°C (50s °F) by November.
❄️ Winter (December – March): Pistoia’s winters are cool to cold, but the town takes on a cozy charm. December brings festive holiday decorations to the historic center – at the Christmas market you can sip vin brulé (mulled wine). Temperatures average around 5-10°C (40-50°F), with January being the coldest. Pistoia is close to ski resorts in the Apennines where families can take a short drive for skiing, snowboarding, or to simply play in the snow.
Getting to Pistoia
One of Pistoia’s perks is its easy accessibility. Despite feeling off the beaten path, it’s very well-connected by road and rail, sitting almost exactly between the famous cities of Florence and Lucca in northern Tuscany. Here are the options -
✈️ Air
- Florence Peretola (FLR), just 30 kilometers away, about a 30–40 minute drive.
- Pisa International Airport (PSA) is roughly a one-hour drive or 90 minutes by train.
- Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), about 90 kilometers north, about 75 minutes by car or 1.5–2 hours by train.
🚂 Train
- From Florence, with frequent 30–40 minute trips from Santa Maria Novella station.
- Direct trains from Lucca take around 45 minutes.
- From Pisa, about 80 minutes with a transfer.
- Bologna is roughly a 1 hour 40-minute journey.
In Pistoia, getting around is easy with most locations walkable and ideal for family strolls. Taxis are readily available, but walking is usually simpler. Cars are convenient for day trips to nearby destinations, and renting bikes is another great family activity, with paths like the scenic Ciclovia dell’Olio.
"Walking around town is surprisingly easy. Our last cohort was in Syros, which of course has the stairs... Pistoia is relatively flat, but also convenient as far as locations of cafés and restaurants. Everything is close by."
— Michael O’Leary
Top Things to Do in Pistoia
Piazza del Duomo
Beginning this list of things to do in Piazza del Duomo, the heart of Pistoia with notable landmarks. Highlights include the Cathedral of San Zeno with its striped marble facade, the climbable Bell Tower for panoramic views, and the octagonal Baptistery of San Giovanni. Admire the medieval buildings that frame this picturesque setting.
This piazza often hosts events, from concerts during Pistoia Blues to food festivals. But even on a quiet day, it’s enchanting – let the kids chase pigeons or grab a seat on the cathedral steps to people watch.
Pistoia Sotterranea - Underground Pistoia
Discover the city’s hidden history on the Underground Pistoia tour, an adventure beneath the streets! This family-friendly adventure takes you through ancient tunnels beneath the old town and historic Ceppo Hospital, offering intriguing insights into medieval life. Bring a sweater!
Guided tours lead you through narrow brick passageways while recounting tales of medieval life, medical history, and even a bit of spooky legend. It’s an educational experience, wrapped in the fun of an underground exploration.
Medieval Churches & Art
Pistoia is well known for its impressive churches. Highlights include San Giovanni Fuorcivitas with its unique marble zebra-like stripes and Sant’Andrea’s famous 13th-century pulpit by Giovanni Pisano. Enjoy a visit to the Marino Marini Museum for contemporary art and the nearby Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi which offers fascinating archaeological exhibits.
You can literally make a game of counting how many churches you spot while wandering the center. Many of which contain art by notable Italian masters.
Piazza della Sala – Market Life
Experience local life at Piazza della Sala’s daily market, filled with fresh produce, cheeses, and flowers - perfect for picnic supplies.
This market has been operating since medieval times, and it’s a slice of real life in Pistoia (you’ll rub shoulders with nonnas doing their shopping and chatty vendors slicing prosciutto). In the center of the piazza is the Pozzo del Leoncino, an ancient well with a little marble lion, symbol of the city.
By evening, the square becomes lively with cafes and restaurants ideal for aperitivo. Enjoy casual dining and local treats as you soak in the authentic atmosphere.
Museums and More
Visit the Capitolare Museum for religious art or the Civic Museum for historical insights. For an outdoor experience, Fattoria di Celle offers contemporary art installations set amidst beautiful gardens. Above all, Pistoia invites leisurely exploration - wander its charming streets, discover hidden corners, and immerse your family in local Pistoiesi life.
With Pistoia’s compact size, you can see a lot in a day or two, but it also rewards those who linger longer and dig into its layers. Every church facade, every corner of a cloister, every fresco tells a piece of Pistoia’s story.
Family-Friendly Activities
Pistoia Zoo - Giardino Zoologico
This is a must-do for anyone with kids in tow - and animal-loving adults! The Pistoia Zoological Garden is a 7-hectare park home to over 600 animals from around the world. You can meet favorites like lions, tigers, giraffes, and elephants, as well as rarer creatures like Madagascan lemurs and the red panda.
Pinocchio Park in Collodi
A 30-minute drive from Pistoia takes you into the pages of a fairy tale – the story of Pinocchio. The Pinocchio Park in the village of Collodi is a whimsical theme park dedicated to the beloved wooden puppet who became a real boy. After all, Carlo Collodi (author of Pinocchio) spent time in this area, and the park is a tribute to that legacy.
Right next door are the Gardens of Villa Garzoni – beautifully landscaped Italian gardens with peacocks and a butterfly house - ticketed separately, but combo tickets are available. The whole Collodi experience is quite enchanting for younger children and also a nice break from city sightseeing for adults.
Playgrounds and Parks
Within Pistoia itself, you’ll find several parks to let kids burn off energy. The Bonelle Park and Villone Puccini offer green space, walking paths, and playground equipment. There’s also the Flying Garden (Giardino Volante), a creative urban play area with imaginative structures – it was designed by artists, so it’s more than just swings and slides.
If you have toddlers or young children, you might check out indoor play zones like Wonder Park or Tanilla’s Park, which have inflatables and games, useful on a rainy day. These are essentially play gyms where kids can jump and climb safely while parents relax.
For a uniquely Pistoia twist, consider renting bikes or family pedal carts and riding a portion of the Ciclovia dell’Olio.
“Pistoia has wonderful parks... and of course evening trips for gelato are so special.”
— Jessica Masterson
Adventures in Pistoia Mountains
Older kids and teens (and adventure-seeking parents!) might love a trip up to the Pistoia Apennines north of the city. In summer, head to Adventure Parks like Forest Park Adventure in Cutigliano or Abetone Gravity Park, where you can do zip-lines, rope courses, and mountain biking. In winter, the ski resorts offer sledding, snowshoeing, and beginner ski lessons.
One very cool attraction is the Suspension Bridge of San Marcello Piteglio (Ponte Sospeso), about a 45-minute drive from Pistoia. It’s one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world – 227 meters long and hanging 36 meters high over a river.
Hands-On Cultural Experiences
Pistoia and its region have some wonderful hands-on experiences. For example, you can join a family cooking class at a local farm or osteria – some are geared towards kids, letting them make their own pasta or pizza. Another idea is an olive oil tasting on a nearby farm. Pistoia’s surroundings are full of small farms producing wine, honey, cheese, etc., many of which welcome visitors for tours.
Culture and Community Vibes
One of the most special aspects of Pistoia is the strong sense of welcome and connection you’ll find here. Pistoia offers an environment where you can truly integrate and belong, not just pass through as a tourist.
“We sat in the square drinking coffee when some Boundless friends rode by on bikes and joined us... It was a simple, spontaneous moment—but it perfectly captured the magic of Pistoia.”
— Michael O’Leary
A Warm, “Small-Town” Welcome
Pistoia’s manageable size means that after a few weeks you might start recognizing the same friendly faces at the bakery, the market, or the playground. And they’ll recognize you too! Locals in Pistoia might be a bit reserved at first, a common trait in Northern Tuscany, much like how Montenegrins can seem reserved), but once you break the ice – even with a few Italian phrases or a smile – you’ll find them incredibly helpful and curious about you.
Many Pistoiesi speak at least some English, especially younger folks and those in hospitality, but even if there’s a language gap, don’t worry – Italians are masters of communication and will engage with your kids using smiles, gestures, and perhaps the universal language of offering a candy or patting a head.
In shops and cafes, you’ll experience genuine hospitality. Your children might get doted on expect plenty of “Che belli!” – “How beautiful!” – from strangers admiring your little ones. This is a family-oriented culture, where kids are cherished and inclusion is the norm. So as a foreign family, you won’t feel out of place; if anything, you become a bit of a fun novelty and often people will go the extra mile to make sure you’re comfortable.
"Nearly every evening, parents are sitting in the courtyard sharing wine and appetizers. The kids run from apartment to apartment. We leave our doors open and welcome each other’s children like our own. The community building in Pistoia is just magical."
— Jessica Masterson
Built-in Community with Boundless Life
If you are part of the Boundless Life program in Pistoia, you’ll instantly have a support system. Boundless Life’s model is to create a “village” for traveling families, and in Pistoia they have done just that. The Education Center, Coworking Hub, and many of the Boundless apartments are located close together in the historic center.
After dropping your children at the Education Center, you might head to the coworking space where you’ll work alongside other parents from around the world. Over coffee, you’ll bond with other Boundless Life parents, on shared travel tips and stories, or planning weekend excursions together. Meanwhile, the kids are forming their own bonds at school – friendships that continue at the park after class or during group field trips.
Boundless also organizes activities that bring the community together; family potluck dinners; group hikes to nearby hills; weekend trips to cities like Siena or to the beach; and even volunteer opportunities to engage with local causes.
"We’re never alone. Every day trip, every activity seems to happen with another Boundless family. It’s the easiest, most natural way to make lifelong friends."
— Michael O’Leary
Cultural Immersion
Living in Pistoia allows you to experience Italian culture deeply, not just observe it from the outside. You and your family can participate in local traditions – for example, join the locals during the Giostra dell’Orso festival, or take an Italian language class together. Even basic phrases learned and used at the market can be a fun family challenge.
The “village” feeling in Pistoia extends beyond the Boundless circle. You might find yourself joining a local yoga class, or the kids enroll in a nearby soccer club or art class with local children. Pistoia has community centers and clubs that warmly welcome newcomers. Don’t hesitate to get involved – whether it’s a charity run, a library story hour, or a cooking group, it’s another avenue to weave yourself into the social fabric.
Pistoia’s Boundless community also arranges cultural excursions, such as a guided tour of a nearby organic winery or a day trip to Florence. If your children are in the Boundless education program, they might already be learning Italian songs or Tuscan history, which then come to life when you explore as a family.
Safety
Pistoia is known as a very safe city with a low crime rate. Children can have a bit more independence here than in a big metropolis. It’s common to see young teens hanging out in the piazzas or walking to school together.
As parents, this environment gives peace of mind. You might feel comfortable letting your older kids walk to the corner bakery or play in the pedestrian streets without constant supervision, which can be freeing for both them and you.
Final Thoughts: Your Pistoia Adventure Awaits
Pistoia, Tuscany may just surprise you – it’s a destination that proves sometimes the lesser-known places offer the richest experiences. This medieval gem manages to blend beauty, history, and community warmth into an inviting package for traveling families.
By choosing Pistoia, you’re giving your family the chance to slow down and truly live in Italy rather than just skim the surface. You’ll taste and cook authentic Tuscan food, celebrate local festivals, trade stories with locals at the market, and watch your kids thrive in an environment that is both stimulating and nurturing.
Ready to make Tuscany’s hidden gem your home away from home? Pack your bags, bring your curiosity (and appetite!), and get ready for an unforgettable experience in Pistoia. When it’s time to leave, you might just find that a piece of Pistoia stays in your heart.
Buon viaggio e benvenuti a Pistoia – a presto!
"Boundless families are people who want to celebrate life with you. That has been our entire experience here - celebrating life."
— Jessica Masterson
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