Are you a digital nomad who wants to stay and work remotely from Pistoia, Tuscany? Remote working has become the new norm for many, meaning the office can be anywhere. COVID-19 restrictions have been reduced, and more people can now conveniently travel the world as they work.
Pistoia is a beautiful small city located in Tuscany, close to Pisa and Florence. The town is a famous summer destination for Italians, digital nomads, and tourists who want to experience and admire its outstanding medieval architecture. The combination of rich heritage, incredible scenery and architecture, culture, and relaxed ambiance, indeed, makes Pistoia an ideal place to explore as a digital nomad.
A Brief History of Pistoia and What to Expect in the City
People refer to Pistoia as ‘Florence in miniature’ for its outstanding art, architecture, vivid cultural lifestyle, and quiet confidence. During ancient times, Pistoia city was settled by Etruscan people before it became colonized by the Romans.
Pistoia was under the control of several hands during the wars between the Ghibellines and the Guelphs, but was mainly under the Florentine’s control. Apart from the stunning architecture, history, and unique culture, Pistoia is known to be the birthplace of a pistol firearm in the 16th century.
The city is ideally located in the Tuscany countryside. Mountains surround the city and tons of spa towns, pastry shops, and boutiques for shopping lovers. It’s also a picturesque city that hosts wonderful historical buildings, including the Palazzo del Comune and the Duomo, which features a Baptistery.
Why Is Pistoia an Excellent for Remote Workers and Digital Nomads?
Unique Living Culture
Pistoia’s living culture makes it unique from other cities of a similar size in Italy. The town appeared in the spotlight in 2017 as the capital of culture in Italy and has since grown to accommodate remote workers.
Pistoia Has Affordable Accommodation Rates
If you’re a remote worker or digital nomad looking for a place to stay and work as you sightsee various artistic and historical attractions, then Pistoia is an excellent place to be. The city is small and offers lower accommodation rates than other large cities in Italy, making it a perfect spot for teleworkers and digital nomads.
Excellent Local Cuisines
If you love food, Pistoia will be a paradise for you. Pistoia is a perfect city to experience the taste of authentic Italian and, specifically, Tuscan cuisine. The most typical dishes include schiacciata, ribollita, Tuscan crostini, duck sauce, fried mixed meats, and many other Tuscan cuisines.
The Government’s Initiative to Invest in Fast Internet
The government has allocated funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to recover after the pandemic. The government’s initiative to invest in ultra-fast networks is a plus for digital nomads and remote workers who intend to stay and work in Pistoia. Further, the initiative for high-internet connection is meant to attract more remote workers and digital nomads. This is excellent news for those looking forward to exploring Pistoia and the surrounding areas.
Lots of Things to Do or See
Italy is one of the most popular destinations to travel in the world. It’s, indeed, the kind of destination that suits all types of interests or tastes. There are numerous places you can explore and activities you can do if you live in Pistoia.
Enticing Places to go for Weekend Trips Around Pistoia
Pistoia has excellent neighborhoods with a ton of hidden gems to visit. You can take a weekend getaway or a day trip and explore what the Pistoia neighborhood has to offer.
Take a Day or Weekend Trip to Florence
Florence is Tuscany’s capital and a popular destination for overnight or day trips. Pistoia is a small city with lower house and hotel renting rates than Florence. Thus, making it ideal for many visitors to use it as a base to tour Florence. Florence features incredible artistic and architectural heritage to explore, including the Ponte Vecchio, the San Miniato al Monte, and the Boboli Gardens. If you’re a digital nomad living in Pistoia, there are several ways you can get to Florence for your day or weekend trip.
Traveling by bus from Pistoia is the cheapest way but takes about one and a half hours. It may also require a change along the way. Using a train is the easiest and fastest way to travel, and depending on which train you choose, travel time may take approximately 30 minutes to one hour. Driving takes about 30 to 50 minutes to reach Florence, depending on the road traffic.
Enjoy a Weekend Trip to Lucca
It goes without saying that Lucca is home to over 100 churches. A one-day trip may not be enough to discover the charming Lucca. Indeed, the city features several artistic treasures and hidden attractions that will make your weekend trip fun and exciting. The city is surrounded by old city walls and is the only one that is entirely accessible by bike or foot in Italy. Over four kilometers of the panoramic walkway overlooks the city, where you can discover secret corners as you walk down the old city streets.
When you cross the old city walls, you enter the heart of Lucca city. There, you’ll see many religious buildings with outstanding architectural styles. Head to the Duomo and see unique art masterpieces, including Volto Santo. A train from Pistoia to Lucca takes about 40 minutes, and a bus takes about 50 minutes. However, you’re likely to take about 30 to 40 minutes if you drive.
A Day Trip to Pisa
Get yourself a day trip to Pisa and explore the magnificent Leaning Tower of Pisa with its baptistery and cathedral. Pisa is a classical stop on every visitor’s itinerary and can easily be visited within a day. Apart from the famous Leaning Tower, you’ll get to see other monuments that are just as beautiful at the Square of Miracles.
The Camposanto and the Santa Maria Assunta cathedral are other outstanding monuments to look forward to. You can drive or use public transport for a day trip to Pisa from Pistoia. You’ll take approximately 50 minutes when using a regional train, and about 40 to 50 minutes to arrive in Pisa.
Take a Weekend Getaway to Siena
Siena is situated in the South of Florence and is surrounded by fabulous artworks you wouldn’t want to miss. The old historic town features outstanding monuments like the Piazza del Campo, surrounded by several curving facades of the elegant palaces.
Another great but unusual activity to do in Siena is climbing the Facciatone, an unfinished façade of a Cathedral. Once you reach the top, you’ll see a good view of Siena and the Tuscany countryside. Traveling from Pistoia to Siena is approximately three hours 15 minutes by train or bus and one hour and 13 minutes if you drive. You can also take a bus via Florence, which will take about three hours.
Photo credits
Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash
Photo by Alessio Patron on Unsplash
Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash
Photo by Robert Anitei on Unsplash
Photo by Patrick Shneider on Unsplash
Photo by Drew Dempsey on Unsplash
