Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Sala – Two of Pistoia’s most atmospheric squares
Visiting the town of Pistoia in Tuscany is like taking a journey back in time. When one thinks of elegant, historical and traditional Italian towns, Pistoia is the epitome of such visions. This ancient town was a centre for Estruscan, Gallic and Ligurian settlements before becoming a Roman colony in the 6th century BC.
Inside its ancient walls, Pistoia preserves an impressive medieval city with many of the important political and religious buildings that were erected during the town’s ‘golden age’ in the 1100’s being popular tourist sites today. Part of Pistoia’s unrivalled charm are its handful of squares providing the perfect place for tourists to sit back and relax whilst watching timeless life in Pistoia unravel.
Piazza del Duomo
The Piazza del Duomo is commonly regarded as being the heart of the city. This huge square is encircled with fascinating and ancient buildings, including the Palazzo del Podesta and the Palazzo del Comune. Possessing a prominent Romanesque style, the Piazza del Duomo holds annual Roman-inspired events, such as the Giostra dell’ Orsa – the Bear Joust – whereby horsemen in the district battle it out to hit a target held up by a dummy bear.
This awe-inspiring square is bustling with life and activity every day of the week and all throughout the year and is the perfect place to contemplate life in Pistoia.
Piazza della Sala
The Piazza della Sala is one of the oldest squares in Pistoia. One of the most important buildings in this atmospheric square is the Palazzo degli Anziani, which is the city’s centre for free trade and commerce.
What makes Piazza della Sala particularly full of character and life is the food market that has been held for centuries in the square. This popular market sells everything food related from fresh meat and fish to fruit and vegetables.
In the mid-fifteenth century the square was paved and it was ordered that no meat was to be butchered in the fresh air, to advocate public health.
People of all ages regularly congregate in the Piazza della Sala to enjoy a quite daytime drink. Although it is at night this square really comes alive when lights are lit designed to enhance the sheer beauty of the buildings that line the beautiful Piazza della Sala.