Pistoia Zoo is the most important zoo in Tuscany.

The zoo was founded in 1970 in Pieve a Celle; it covers a surface of about 7 hectares and hosts about 600 species of animals, including the lion - the king of the savannah -, the lemurs of Madagascar - protagonists of a famous film -, giraffes, zebras, jaguars, elephants, monkeys, giant turtles, reptiles, birds, etc.

And obviously the "micco", as the natives call the bear. Teddy and Ochila have arrived to Pistoia zoo thanks to a project for the protection of the Marsican bear, a subspecies of the brown bear that lives in central Italy, and in particular in the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. In the past it lived also in the forests around Pistoia. It is not by chance that Pistoia coat of arms features a couple of bears.

In the last few years the zoo has undergone several renovation works aiming at improving the various environments for animals and plants and the facilities for visitors.

Open the whole year round (Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm; Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm), the zoo offers also restaurants, picnic areas, a playground area, didactic laboratories and many other services.

A bus service connects Pistoia railway station to the zoo in 15 minutes.

So, at the end of your holidays in Tuscany, surprise your friends telling them that you have seen lions, tigers... and many other animals from all over the world.