The Pistoia Apennine, located in Northern Tuscany is well known for its precious natural resources: the peaceful woods, invigorating fresh air, genuine agricultural products from the land and the splendour of breathtaking landscapes.
Its location, near some of Tuscany’s greatest art centres allows visitors to divide their time between the outdoors and cultural interests.
The landscape is typically alpine.
Rounded mountains and deep valleys split by fragmented streams make up this uncontaminated natural views.
Trekking tracks, refuges, new signs and maps are trying to satisfy the most of people fond of mountain.
The numerous forest trails allow excellent mountain bike excursions. www.montagna-pistoiese-trekking.it

The Pistoia mountains are a true paradise for lovers of winter sports. Here you can find some of the most beautiful and well-equipped ski resorts in the Tuscan Apennine, such as Abetone and Doganaccia, well-known and visited both by those who love skiing for pleasure and those who ski competitively.
The slopes of Abetone, always perfectly prepared, can satisfy the needs of both the expert skier and the beginner, adding up to a total of nearly 60 km (44km of downhill slopes and 15km of cross-country). Some of the 32 slopes have been mapped out by the great skiing champions of Abetone, Zeno Colò and Celina Seghi. The 21 lift facilities, all of the latest generation, are capable of transporting 21000 people per hour, without the risk of queues, and allow uninterrupted skiing on all of the slopes. www.abetoneovovia.it

The ski resort of Doganaccia, located at the foot of the beautiful medieval village of Cutigliano, covers over 10km of downhill slopes and around 11km of cross-country tracks, laid out on two rings. The slopes, all very well-kept, are served by 5 lifts and include the very latest winter sport, snow tubing. www.doganaccia2000.it

In the Foresta del Teso, a wonderful nordic ski track of about 6 km starting Casetta dei Pulledrari (1222 m): an old refuge for horses and foals. The lower part of the ski track is easier and accessible to beginners.
The higher part is more technical and reaches 1300 m. The management of the ski track is entrusted to the Ski Club of Mountain Pistoiese in Maresca.
You can rent skis, boots and poles, and book private lessons. www.marescaonline.it

All the area is well provided of lots of sports facilities: football fields, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and gym to satisfy all people who are fond of sports.

What you can see

San Marcello Pistoiese

Of roman origin, in the high Middle age expanded around the watch tower , which then became the bell tower of the church. The Romanesque church , altered in the 17th century , contains the remains of Saint Celestina , patron of the town and protector of the mountain , celebrated on8th September, day in which every year a big balloon , based on the original design by the Montgolfier brothers is launched . Piazza Matteotti  is the main square ; it is overlocked by ancient buildings. Just outside the village you can visit the Oratory of San Rocco , built as a mark of gratitude to the Saint after the plague of 1600. From 1800 San Marcello became famous with summer tourism . Today it is the main town in the mountain and highly appreciated centre for all services.

Gavinana

Surrounded by chestnut woods , the old medieval nucleus is still intact . The history  of the village is linked to Francesco Ferrucci , leader of the Florentine republic militia , who died on3rd August 1530 , after a bloody battle against the imperial troops. The equestrian statue in the square and the museum are dedicated to the hero. Inside the  old church of Santa Maria Assunta , built in the 12th century , are preserved : the beautiful marble holy water font from the 16th century , wooden sculptures , two polychrome works in glazed terracotta by Benedetto Buglioni , from the Della Robbia school and  19th century organ by Cesare and Luigi Tronci

Lizzano

It was one of the most important centre in the mountain between 10th and 14th centuries. The old church, the palazzo pretorio and the Pilgrims’ Hospital were destroyed by a land slide in 1814. Today the village is famous for its “Murales”, decorating buildings ,painted by the artists of the Gruppo Donatello since 1985 ; they narrate mountain life. In the restored church there are precious works in glazed terracotta dated from 1500.

Cutigliano

It is a small medieval hamlet completely immersed in the woods  of the Apennines. Built in the Longobard era , it developed after 1368 , when it became the centre of mountain magistracy. In remembrance of that period the Palazzo pretorio remains . On its facade 95 stone and terracotta coat of arms marked the passage of the captains between 1400 and 1700 and a large Medici coat of arms is situated above the entrance portal. In the churches of Madonna Della piazza and San Bartolomeo lots of works from 1500 are preserved.

Piteglio

Nell’XI secolo era un castello fortificato, lungo la strada che univa Pistoia alla Garfagnana. Nel piccolo paese sono presenti due chiese : la chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, fondata da Matilde di Canossa e datata 1040 e la chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta dove la reliquia del latte sacro della Madonna, portata da un crociato dalla Terra Santa, è conservata nella cappella della Madonna del Latte.

Popiglio

Fu un antico feudo intorno all’anno 1000. Per la sua posizione strategica, al confine con Lucca, fu spesso al centro di battaglie e distrutto molte volte. La chiesa romanica di Santa Maria Assunta, fondata nel 1271, è uno dei più importanti monumenti sacri della montagna pistoiese.

Ponte Sospeso

Few kilometres after San Marcello , towards Abetone , in the village of Le Ferriere , is situated the Hanging bridge , a long walkway linking the two banks of the lima river. It was built in 1922 for the workers of the metallurgical company of Mammiano. It is 40 metres in the highest point and 220 metres long. It is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world and the longest in Europe.

Ponte di Castruccio

It is situated in Lolle, near Piteglio. It was built in the Middle age by Castruccio Castracani and marked the border between Pistoia and Lucca. Erected by one only vault, using river pebbles, on its left side, two buildings remember the two ancient custom offices where once the merchants paid duty.

Osservatorio Astronomico

Built in 1991, the astronomical observatory is situated in Pian De’ Termini, above Gavinana, on a plateau at an altitude of about 950 metres , in an excellent position for the observation of celestial phenomena. It has two semi spherical rotating domes with diameter of 5 metres , a 60 centimetres telescope and a well equipped hall for meetings and conferences. www.gamp-pt.net

Rifugi SMI

It is a striking underground itinerary the one that curves around for two kilometers under the headquarters of the ex Smi Campotizzoro. It was built here in the 1930’s thanks to the imposing military architectural project commissioned by the Orlandos, a complex system of anti-airplane galleries built into the live rock twenty meters of depth to protect the population of the industrial city from bombardments and chemical attacks. Today, finally, the site has become accessible to the public. www.irsapt.it

Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese

Opened in 1990 , it is made up of six open-air trails, which make it possible to discover the Pistoiese mountains through the marks that the relationship between man and the environment has left on the area over the centuries. Water and woodlands have supplied the row material and energy used by the local inhabitans to create simple and ingenious manufacturing plants in the form of iron works , ice works and mills. These structures have been restored and given new functions and have been turned into this experimental and innovative kind of museum , which has been emulated by many other areas in Italy. www.provincia.pistoia.it/ecomuseo

Speciale for Children

Parco Avventura

From Cutigliano, by a new cablecar, you can arrive to Doganaccia to live an ad adventure through an air route among trees. The Park is divided into three parts, from the easiest to the most difficult. Using wooden platforms, suspended bridges and ropes, you can cross the Beech wood testing your balance, concentration and strength. Great fun for everybody. www.doganaccia2000.it

Lo Zoo di Pistoia

It was founded and opened to the public in 1970. The Zoo is surrounded by Pines, Oaks and tropical trees and covers an area of over seven hectares. It houses 600 animals belonging to different classes such as mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Open everyday. www.zoodipistoia.it

Collodi – Parco di Pinocchio

Inaugurated in 1956, The Pinocchio Park is not an ordinary theme park, but rather a precious  masterpiece created by lots of artists. The itinerary is marked out by mosaics, buildings and sculptures telling the adventures of the most famous puppet in the world. www.pinocchio.it

La Casa delle Farfalle

It is a splendid greenhouse building of stone and crystal, housing a lush tropical garden with nearly a thousand butterflies from all over the world.

La Grotta del Vento

Situated in the centre of the Apuan Alps’ Nature Park (Lucca), this is one of the most complete European caves. For its extraordinary variety of aspects, it is a real encyclopaedia of the underground world with galleries, chambers and shafts where there are splendid stalactites, stalagmites and alabaster. www.grottadelvento.com

Il Ponte del Diavolo

A great example of medieval engineering with five asymmetrical arches, it is situated along the road n. 12 towards Lucca. Built in the 12th century is one of the most famous monuments of the province of Lucca and it guards a legend…

Oasi WWF Dynamo

This is a very large piece of land (around 900 hectares) located in the Pistoia Apennines, the aim of which is to protect and safeguard this unspoiled corner of Tuscany. The Oasis, which is equipped with a number of walks and educational routes, features a rich variety of flora and fauna. It is inhabited by wolves, roe deer, mouflons, deer, fallow deer, wild boars, porcupines, foxes, stoats, weasels and dormice, as well as a variety of birds, including numerous diurnal raptors such as goshawks, buzzards, falcons and the magnificent royal eagles www.wwf.it

Ranch “Il Vivaio”

Nearby the centre of the village of San Marcello, Il Vivaio is a riding track who offers riding school, horseback rides and excursions in the mountain.