Agostini's Farmhouse - Tuscany by the owner

A traveller wrote at the end of the 19 century -" Those who don't know Pistoia can't even imagine what artistic treasures are hidden there" and it is exactly this that surprises visitors who wind on foot through its enchanting streets and squares, not only because of its world renowned artistic masterpieces but because of the atmosphere you feel as you lose yourself in its streets.
Although it is not yet as visited as other towns in Tuscany, Pistoia presents a well-preserved and charming medieval city inside the old walls. The large Piazza del Duomo is lined with attractive original buildings, and is the setting (in July) of the Bear Joust (Giostra dell'Orso), when the best horsemen of the districts of the town tilt with lances at a target held up by a dummy shaped like a bear.
The savagery of the ancient inhabitants of Pistoia lives on in the weapon that takes its name from their city (though the word "pistol" originally referred to a type of dagger). But the idea of savagery is unfair; this city is an architectural feast, especially the unforgettable Ospedale del Ceppo, with its ornate terracotta frieze and medallions.
Historically the town was a Roman colony in the 6th century BC, and in 62 BC Catiline and his fellow conspirators were slain nearby. In 1254 Ghibelline Pistoia was taken over by Guelph Florence, but supposedly resulted in the division of the Guelphs into "Black" and "White" factions. Pistoia remained a Florentine holding except for a brief period in the 14th century, when Castruccio Castracani captured it for Lucca, and was officially annexed to Florence in 1530.
Geographically Pistoia is in the middle of the Tuscan province of the same name, is 67 meters above sea level. It is located on a wide plain on the Ombrone River and lies between Monte Albano and the slopes of the Appenines.