Pistoia

Pistoia, city in the Toscana (Tuscany) regione, north-central Italy. Pistoia city lies in the valley of the Ombrone River, with a semicircle of pleasant hills (part of the Apennines) to the north. The city lies about 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Florence.

Known in ancient times as Pistoria, it was a site of Gallic, Ligurian, Etruscan, and Roman occupation and in 63 bc was the scene of the death in battle of the Roman demagogue Catiline. The town was a bishopric from the 5th century and an early and vigorous free Italian commune from the late 11th century until it came under Florentine domination in 1329. In 1786 a famous Jansenist episcopal synod was convened there.

Pistoia’s medieval city centre is dominated by the 12th-century cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo, with its freestanding bell tower (once a Lombard watchtower) and the baptistery (begun 1337) opposite. The cathedral contains the famous silver Altar of St. James, which was mentioned by the poet Dante and worked upon by generations of silversmiths. The Palazzo Comunale (1294–1385) and the Pretorio Palace (1367) enclose the Piazza del Duomo on the east and west, respectively. The city’s other churches include Giovanni Fuorcivitas (12th century; containing a Visitation in glazed terra-cotta by Andrea della Robbia), Sant’ Andrea (12th century), San Francesco al Prato (1294–1394), and the Madonna dell’Umiltà (1494–1519). The Ospedale del Ceppo (founded 1277) is noted for a sculptural frieze by Giovanni della Robbia.

Modern-day Pistoia has several training schools and institutes. The city is a road and rail junction and has tanning, shoemaking, ironworking, and glassmaking industries. Lace is also made, and flowers are grown for sale and export. Pop. (2006 est.) mun., 85,947.