The "Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese" (Ecomuseum of Pistoia Mountain Region) has been the first of its genre in Italy.

It consists in a group of small collections, relatively small museums, historical buildings, didactic centres and industrial archaeology sites situated in a large region and connected through various itineraries.

Pistoia ecomuseum features six itineraries, each characterized by a colour.

• There is the ice itinerary (blue), through which people discover how important ice was in past for conserving food and goods in general.

• Then you have the sacred art itinerary (purple), whose heart is the Museo Diocesano of Piteglio.

• The stone itinerary (gray) develops along the paved Via Francesca that connects Pavana to Sambuca Castello.

• The heart of the itinerary devoted to everyday life (yellow) is the "Museo della Gente dell`Appennino Pistoiese" in Rivoleta.

• The "Orto Botanico Forestale dell`Abetone" became part of the nature itinerary (obviously green) in 1987.

• The iron itinerary (red) shows the deep bond that links Pistoia mountain region to iron industry.

Just a tip: before starting your trip along one of the six itineraries, go to the tourist information point at Palazzo Achilli in Gavinana (San Marcello Pistoiese) and get the telephone numbers and opening hours of the various museums.

That is an interesting way to spend your vacations far from the traditional tourist destinations. Do not forget that Pistoia mountain region represents over half of the territory of the province. And if you decide to spend your vacations in Italy in the summer, why do not you look for your accommodation among the Tuscan villas with pool in the municipalities of Abetone, Cutigliano, Marliana, Piteglio, Sambuca Pistoiese and San Marcello Pistoiese?