Province of Pistoia

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Province of Pistoia
Provincia di Pistoia (Italian)
Province
Palazzo Panciatichi in Pistoia, the provincial seat
Palazzo Panciatichi in Pistoia, the provincial seat
Coat of arms of Province of Pistoia
Coat of arms
Location of the Province of Pistoia in Italy
Location of the Province of Pistoia in Italy
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Capital(s)Pistoia
Municipalities20
Government
 • PresidentLuca Marmo
Area
[1]
 • Total
964.12 km2 (372.25 sq mi)
Population
 (2026)[2]
 • Total
290,867
 • Density301.69/km2 (781.38/sq mi)
GDP
[3]
 • Total€7.302 billion (2015)
 • Per capita€24,986 (2015)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
51100
Telephone prefix0573
Vehicle registrationPT
ISTAT047

The Province of Pistoia (Italian: provincia di Pistoia) is a province in the region of Tuscany in Italy. It is a landlocked province with the seat at the city of Pistoia. It has a population of 290,867 in an area of 964.12 square kilometres (372.25 sq mi) across its 20 municipalities.[2][1]

History

The region had Gallic, Ligurian and Etruscan settlements before being captured by the Roman Empire in the sixth century BCE.[4] It was followed by bishopric reign in the fifth century CE.[4][5] It later rose to prominence in the early Middle Ages under the Lombards.[4][5] It became a free city in 1177 CE and became part of Florence in the 16th century CE and the later the Kingdom of Italy.[4] Pistols were manufactured originally here in the 16th century and the name itself is said to have been derived from Pistoia.[5]

Geography

Pistoia is a landlocked province located in northeastern Tuscany, stretching from the Apennine ridges in the north to the Arno river and Ombrone plains in the south. It borders the provinces of Florence, Prato, Lucca, Modena, and Bologna.[6] Spread over an area of 964 km2 (372 sq mi), it encompasses 20 comuni, including the provincial capital, Pistoia.[6][7] The terrain ranges from valley plains to mountain peaks reaching 1,600 m (5,200 ft) in the Apennines.[5] The region includes various natural reserves located in the Pistoia mountains including Abetone and Val de Luce.[6][8] The city of Pistoia is roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from both Lucca and Florence.[8]

Demographics

As of 2026, the population is 290,867, of which 48.7% are male, and 51.3% are female. Minors make up 13.8% of the population, and seniors make up 27.0%.[2]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1861148,553—    
1871162,864+9.6%
1881166,457+2.2%
1901192,859+15.9%
1911206,382+7.0%
1921214,184+3.8%
1931209,795−2.0%
1936211,150+0.6%
YearPop.±%
1951219,582+4.0%
1961232,999+6.1%
1971254,335+9.2%
1981264,995+4.2%
1991264,622−0.1%
2001268,503+1.5%
2011287,866+7.2%
2021289,414+0.5%
Source: ISTAT[9][10]

Immigration

As of 2025, immigrants make up 13.7% of the total population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Albania, Romania, Morocco, China, and Nigeria.[11]

Government

List of presidents

Municipalities

The province has 20 municipalities:

Economy

After the World War II, the mainly agricultural province underwent industrial development. However, the province was amongst the ones with the lowest income per capita in Tuscany due to high poverty levels in the 1960s.[12] Pistoia is globally renowned for floriculture and nursery production, with nearly 2,000 plant nurseries producing 25% of Italy’s ornamental plants.[13] The land around the cities of Pistoia and Pescia are popular locations for flower and plant cultivation, and town and commune Quarrata is known for its wood furniture.[8] Manufacturing includes engineering goods, textiles, furniture, and ceramics.[14] Tourism is a key contributor to the economy with several heritage sites, spa resorts, and skiing sites attracting tourists.[8][13][15] The province hosts the renowned Giostra dell’Orso, a medieval jousting festival on July 25, honoring St Jacopo with historic pageantry, in Pistoia.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011" (in Italian). ISTAT.
  2. "Resident population". ISTAT.
  3. Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3)]. OECD Stats (Report). Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  4. "The Tuscan province of Pistoia". Italian Tribune. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. "Pistoia". Toscana InDettaglio. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  6. "Pistoia Province". ItalyReview. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  7. "Pistoia". Upintet. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  8. "Pistoia". Discover Tuscany. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  9. "Popolazione residente dei comuni. Censimenti dal 1861 al 1991" [Resident population of the municipalities. Censuses from 1861 to 1991] (PDF) (in Italian). ISTAT. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-11-12.
  10. "Resident population - Time series". ISTAT.
  11. "Resident population by sex, municipality and citizenship". ISTAT.
  12. John A. Agnew (1 October 2002). Place and Politics in Modern Italy. University of Chicago Press. pp. 129–. ISBN 978-0-226-01051-9.
  13. "Pistoia". GuidaToscana Economia. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  14. "Pistoia: A Hub of Economic Growth and Opportunity". Platform Executive. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. "Pistoia". Italia.it. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  16. "Giostra dell'Orso". Visit Tuscany. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  17. "Giostra dell'Orso". Discover Tuscany. Retrieved 17 June 2025.

43°56′N 10°55′E / 43.933°N 10.917°E / 43.933; 10.917