Ancient Palace in Pistoia Opens New Archaeological Route

The new archaeological route of the Museum of the Ancient Palace of the Bishops in Pistoia will open to the public on Friday, December 19. The inauguration marks a major step in the restoration and renewal of one of the city’s most significant historic buildings.

The project, carried out by Fondazione Pistoia Musei under the direction of Monica Preti and curated by archaeologist Cristina Taddei, makes the underground spaces of the medieval palace accessible for the first time in decades. The initiative was supported by Fondazione Caript, with additional backing from Conad Nord Ovest, and offers free admission to the museum until January 6, 2026.

The new route expands the museum’s permanent displays with a journey through the city’s hidden foundations, documenting centuries of transformation from Etruscan settlements to the Middle Ages and modern era. Multimedia installations and reconstructed soundscapes accompany visitors through the stratigraphy of the site, first excavated in the 1970s under archaeologist Guido Vannini.

A new introductory hall presents the history of the building through an interactive digital table and displays two ancient sculptures: a Volterran Etruscan urn from the 2nd century BC, reused in the Middle Ages as a reliquary of Saint Felix, and a Roman portrait head of Faustina Major, acquired for the museum by the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia.

The underground route follows traces of ancient roads, wells, and domestic spaces, revealing the city’s long evolution. Highlights include Lombard ceramic finds linked to Pistoia’s early medieval coin mint, Roman cobbled streets and workshops, and a medieval lime kiln still showing evidence of ancient reuse.

Digital content developed within the “Pistoia Moving Stories” project adds interactive 3D models, videos, and augmented reality features. The initiative, created by NANOF / Filippo Garzella and Filippo Macelloni, received recognition with the EssilorLuxottica Digital Award and forms part of Italy’s national PNRR cultural innovation programme.

The museum route continues through the upper floors of the palace, showcasing medieval and modern artworks, including the “Arazzo millefiori”, pieces by Giovanni Boldini, and 17th-century paintings from the Bigongiari Collection.

From December 19, 2025, to January 6, 2026, visitors may access the entire museum free of charge. Regular opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with special openings on December 31, January 1, 5 and 6, and closure on Christmas Day.

The reopening will be accompanied by a year-long cultural programme, including the return of the “Dialogues on Archaeology” lecture series and a special weekend on January 24–25, 2026, dedicated to Agatha Christie, marking 50 years since her death and exploring her link with archaeology.

The new archaeological route, developed in collaboration with the Superintendencies of Tuscany and within the Etruschi 85/25 Project promoted by the Region of Tuscany, reinforces the Ancient Palace of the Bishops as a cornerstone of Pistoia’s museum network and its dialogue between past and present.

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