istoia, a nice little Tuscan town, is only 7 Kms (4 and a half miles) away from San Giustino. Even if you stay here only a week you should go and visit the many beautiful buildings and churches that make the city a real jewel.


The town is not big and can be visited by foot after having parked the car in one of the many parking lots provided by the city. The historic center is in the middle of three concentric circles of city walls, of which the third one is the one better preserved. In spite of its small dimension, the city center is forever crowded because it houses a daily food market (and twice a week garment market that invades the streets of the second circle) and because the center is where the many offices still reside.


Particularly appealing are the facades of the many churches dispersed in town most of which have been recently restored to the (one hopes) original colors

Removed from the huge, noisy and ubiquitous crowds of tourists that invade Florence and the other better known cities of Tuscany, Pistoia lives in a quiet atmosphere still keeping hold of the many traditions linked to the nearby mountain and her agricultural life (converted nowadays into a plant growing activity). Last, but not least most people around here are basically good, eager to help if one is in need and ready to offer their friendship.