Pistoia Sotterranea
Pistoia Sotterranea
4
Points of Interest & Landmarks
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

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

The area

Address
Reach out directly

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles495 reviews
Excellent
188
Very good
181
Average
80
Poor
31
Terrible
15

Cannuckk
Langley, Canada365 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roxxanne-00
Bucharest, Romania217 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NewJerseyPat
Richmond, VA115 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gretch
7 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Friends
I did not enjoy this visit because of our guide. She was in a hurry, did not speak English well, spoke very fast and did not slow her speech when asked to.
The underground was unique and was probably more interesting than I realized. I don’t remember the gal’s name and wouldn’t put it here anyway.
Written February 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SůmmĕrT!mĕ
431 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brun066
Florence, Italy13,403 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane B
UK135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alexineberry
Clitheroe, UK234 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
A trip underground sounded interesting. It wasn't. Only for those with children who need entertaining.
Written May 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cliveandlouise
Bournemouth, UK58 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MLL
Columbia, MD9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 38
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Pistoia Sotterranea - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Pistoia HotelsPistoia Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Pistoia
All things to do in Pistoia
Day Trips in PistoiaZoos & Aquariums in Pistoia
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars