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Province of Pistoia
Pistoia
Things to Do in Pistoia
Pistoia Sotterranea

Pistoia Sotterranea: Hours, Address, Pistoia Sotterranea Reviews: 4/5

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Pistoia Sotterranea

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See all things to do
Pistoia Sotterranea
4
475
#8 of 150 things to do in Pistoia
Points of Interest & Landmarks
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
What people are saying
“Not great”
Oct 2019
Our guide was difficult to understand. Be prepared for walking bent over for part of the tour. Interesting to see, but not a “Must do”.
Jane B
By Jane B
“Enlightening tour”
Jun 2019
The tour guide was very enthusiastic and tried his very best to translate into English. Very interesting facts about life underground. Explained the flooding and how they have tried to overcome this. Bought a combined/multi ticket with the cathedral but the staff were not very up to date with tour times. We arrived at a listed time with no one arriving. Came back for next scheduled tour and they just said that time was not running that day. Be nice if baptistery staff had been informed.we could have planned our day a bit better.
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
325 within 3 miles
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BonodiNulla
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Gelateria Artigianale Cipriani
108
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Secco - Pistoia
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La Vineria no 4
359
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Attractions
178 within 6 miles
Ospedale del Ceppo
322
8.7 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Piazza del Duomo
999
446 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Campanile del Duomo di Pistoia
187
0.1 miArchitectural Buildings • Observation Decks & Towers
Cathedral of Saint Zeno
468
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals
San Bartolomeo in Pantano
74
504 ftReligious Sites
Museo Civico di Pistoia ( Palazzo del Commune)
99
465 ftArt Museums
Palazzo Pretorio
33
446 ftHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
San Giovanni in Corte Baptistery
290
0.1 miArchitectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals
Diocesan Museum Rospigliosi Palace Pistoia
12
489 ftArt Museums • History Museums
Palazzo dei Vescovi
100
0.1 miArchitectural Buildings
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
475 reviews
Excellent
181
Very good
179
Average
77
Poor
30
Terrible
8
Roxxanne-00
Bucharest, Romania192 contributions
Interesting
Aug 2019 • Solo
Despite some negatives reviews, I decided to visit it and I enjoy it. I found out a lot of history. The guide was very kind and answered all questions. The ticket costs is 10 euros. Be carreful: during the tour, there could be water on the ground, so it’s better to take the right shoes.
Written August 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Cannuckk
Langley, Canada316 contributions
A Bit of. Gimmick
Jun 2019 • Couples
We found the whole underground thing an attempt to make an ordinary tour extraordinary, since there wasn't that much to see in the tunnels underground that couldn't be explained equally as well above ground. It didn't quite work for us.The English tour guide was fine except our guide had a fairly strong accent, making it slightly difficult to catch the entire presentation. There are a few exhibits to be seen in the tunnels but for the most part, they were being used to illustrate some aspects of the local history, rather than being original artifacts that belonged there historically.
The medical school lecture room was interesting to see, and well explained.
On the plus side, we were allowed to bring our dog on the tour (and didn't even need to buy a family pass to do it) so that was cool.
Written June 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Brun066
Florence, Italy10,958 contributions
This underground route is different from the others I've experienced (or I know) in Italy.
Sep 2017 • Couples
This ancient underground route you travel in Pistoia isn't a space to lead (in difficulty or emergency times) a sort of "parallel life" to that in the sunlight; as it's in the galleries of Naples, or in those of two towns in Marche region, Osimo and even more Camerano. It's not even an excavation work to supply water to the city (it's the case of so-called "bottini" in Siena). It's instead an artifact that makes a lot of sense about the hygienic conditions not only of Pistoia, but overall of the cities in the past times.
In fact, the establishment - during the Middle Ages - of the Hospital called "Ceppo" in Pistoia has led architects to construct buildings not in a plain flat territory (which technically would seem the simplest solution), but to face the task - certainly more difficult - of put the buildings above the Brana stream, the main one among those touching Pistoia.
This enterprise, seemingly insensate in terms of purely engineering, was, on the other hand, justified for the builders from the hygienic point of view, because it allowed to dispose of hazardous hospital waste by discharging them - through dedicated vertical ducts - into the stream flowing below the hospital. There was no awareness that stream didn't purify, but just transported elsewhere, infections.
This primitive hygiene precaution is thus the central nucleus of the visit, through a long underground tunnel; which today is not even crossed by the Brana stream, diverted to surround the last, wider circle of medieval walls (14th century).
The route is therefore scenic, but not too much, and perhaps not deserving the rating I attribute to it. But the effective explanation of our guide has given it value; as well as did visiting the striking room for anatomical dissections (XVIIIth century) belonging to the ancient Pistoia Medical School.
I learned, among other things, that for the needs of this renowned school (closed in the 1840s), centuries ago the knife called "pistoriensis" (in Latin: "coming from Pistoia") was manufactured. The knife's name, deformed in French in "bistouri" (English bistoury, Italian bisturi) still designates today through the world this major surgical instrument.
Written September 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
NewJerseyPat
Richmond, VA103 contributions
Not great
Oct 2019 • Couples
Our guide was difficult to understand. Be prepared for walking bent over for part of the tour. Interesting to see, but not a “Must do”.
Written October 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jane B
UK140 contributions
Enlightening tour
Jun 2019
The tour guide was very enthusiastic and tried his very best to translate into English.
Very interesting facts about life underground. Explained the flooding and how they have tried to overcome this.

Bought a combined/multi ticket with the cathedral but the staff were not very up to date with tour times. We arrived at a listed time with no one arriving. Came back for next scheduled tour and they just said that time was not running that day. Be nice if baptistery staff had been informed.we could have planned our day a bit better.
Written September 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SůmmĕrT!mĕ
461 contributions
Under the ground
Nov 2018 • Friends
High recommend! The trip last an hour and doesn't cost much, plus the price include discount on other tickets. This underground experience will show you another aspect of the city built long time ago under the hospital. The guide has a good knowledge and is funny.
I really enjoyed.
Written November 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
cliveandlouise
Bournemouth, UK60 contributions
Underground hospital
Jul 2018 • Family
Really interesting tour with knowledgeable guide. Our guide was one of the archaeologists involved in putting the tour together as well as the restoration of this part of the original hospital. Amazing sense of history dating back to thirteenth century until 2013!... The guide and the ticket seller had very good command of English for our benefit and we had written guides to follow as well. Definitely worth a visit if you are near pistoia.
Written July 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MLL
Columbia, MD10 contributions
Pistoia sotterranea!
May 2017
Visit includes a tour guide. I had Gianluca the archeologist who excavated the site! Love the visit to the first anatomy lecture hall. Satisfy my inner geek! I Love Gianluca's passion for his work. The world needs more people like him! Very interesting ! Keep digging Gianluca, can't wait to come back and see what new discoveries you will unveil!
Written May 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
romke
Milan, Italy27 contributions
DUNGEONS IN THE HISTORY
Jan 2017 • Friends
The central hospital of the town is laying on a underground river (now dry) and developed over 800 years since middle age. Visiting the dungeons is interesting for knowing the history of Pistoia that has been, for centuries, a crossroad of people traveling north and south on the ways of the pilgrims. The architecture is not very attracting but the explanations of the guide are very interesting and highlight a story of culture, medicine, trade.
In the hospital, that was also a university, it was experienced the lancet for the first time.
One suggestion: close number of visiting people because over 15, it is difficult to see all and listen and understand the explanations of the guide.
Old town is also worth one visit to its middle age churches and civil buildings.
Written January 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
hesterSussex
sussex17 contributions
Unusual and interesting
May 2015 • Friends
This only takes an hour and is worth a visit if you are at pistoia for the day. You see a medical teaching amphitheatre and visit the tunnels under the hospital. You see an olive mill a blacksmiths water wheel and how they disposed of waste at the old hospital. The guided tour was interesting and ours was delivered in English. Easily accessible for everyone
Written May 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Pistoia Sotterranea
Pistoia Sotterranea is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM