New archaeological route to open at Pistoia’s Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi

Pistoia will open a new archaeological route inside the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi on 19 December 2025, creating a permanent space that guides visitors through more than two millennia of local history. The opening marks a major step towards completing the museum housed in the former episcopal palace, one of the city’s most historically layered buildings. Entry to the entire museum will be free until 6 January 2026. 

The route has been designed to present the results of decades of excavations carried out beneath the palace, especially investigations from the 1970s that uncovered materials spanning different eras. The display begins with three Etruscan funerary monuments: a stele and two cippi belonging to the group known as “pietre fiesolane”, a type widespread between the 6th and 5th centuries BCE in the valleys of the Arno, Sieve and Ombrone Pistoiese. These objects are among the earliest traces of human presence in the area and offer insight into burial customs and territorial organisation in northern Etruria. 

From there, the route reconstructs the long history of the site. It follows the transition from ancient settlement to the construction of the medieval episcopal complex and the architectural changes introduced over the following centuries. The aim is to show how layers of the city developed one above the other, reflecting broader shifts in power, religion and urban growth. 

Fondazione Pistoia Musei, which manages the museum on behalf of Fondazione Caript, describes the archaeological opening as a key element in its plan to strengthen public access to the city’s heritage. The foundation says the new spaces are intended to reconnect residents with the origins of Pistoia and provide visitors with a clearer sense of the territory’s ancient past. 

The archaeological route also forms the starting point for the institution’s 2026 programme, which includes major exhibitions on designer and architect Ettore Sottsass and the artist Carol Rama. 

Practical information

• Opening date: 19 December 2025
• Location: Museo dell’Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi, Pistoia
• Free entry: Until 6 January 2026 for the entire museum

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