Piazza della Sala has been hosting the food market in the city centre for many centuries and it still takes place there everyday. You'll find plenty of stands selling every kind of food, but mostly fresh fruit and vegetables. Surrounding the square there are many small shops characterized by large wooden shutters and shelters.

The San Giovanni Baptistry in Pistoia is located in the Dome Square of Pistoia, in front of the San Zeno Cathedral.

It was given its current shape between 1303 and 1361 and it's considered one of the most important expressions of the tuscan gothic because it holds typical elements from Florence, Pisa and Siena.

The exterior of the baptistry is completely covered in black and green marble; the height of the monument is is about 40 meters.

San Zeno Cathedral is located in Piazza del Duomo of Pistoia ( Dome Square ).

The Cathedral is one of the buildings you can't absolutely miss if you're spending a holiday in Pistoia.

Its facade is in romanic style like several other churches in the city that were built in the same historical period. ( San Bartolomeo and Sant'Andrea ).

San Zeno and San Jacopo are the two patron saints, indeed their statues can be found at the top of the facade.

Although not as popular among tourists as other towns in Tuscany like Florence and Siena, Pistoia presents a very well preserved and charming medieval city inside the old city walls.
The large Piazza del Duomo is lined with original buildings as the Palazzo del Podestà and the Palazzo del Comune: it is the setting during the month of July of the Giostra dell'Orso ( "Bear Joust" ), when the best horsemen of the several districts of the town tilt with lances at a target held up by a dummy shaped like a bear.

Pistoia Zoo was founded in 1970 thanks to the initiative of Raffaello Galardini.
The zoological gardens are located in the peaceful hills around Pistoia laying on a 75,000m² area and hosting over 600 animals: 30 species of reptiles, about 65 species of mammals and 40 species of birds.
Despite Pistoia is rather hot in summer, you'll find a polar bear waiting for you together with jaguars, giraffes, elephants, pythons, monkeys and many other species.