Pretty Pistoia sits snugly at the foot of the Apennines. An easy day trip from Pisa, Lucca or Florence, it thoroughly deserved its 2017 status as European City of Culture. A town that has grown well beyond its medieval ramparts, its centro storico (historic centre) is well preserved and stands guardian to striking contemporary art.
It may be off the beaten tourist track, but the historical town of Prato is conveniently 'on track' when it comes to savouring this unexplored town on a crowd-free foray by train from nearby Pistoia or Florence. Tuscany's second-largest town after Florence, this traditional textile-producing centre has a compact old town girded by near-intact city walls, a stunning cathedral and a handful of interesting museums.
These are the top experiences and sights in Pistoia and Prato, according to Lonely Planet.
