The Sala district
The Sala district of Pistoia is particularly important for the city’s commerce, both in economical terms and for its strong history and traditions. For this reason, the city administration has upheld regulations to protect the typical features of the square and its role in the daily life of citizens for several years.
Piazza della Sala is an example of a true horticultural market square, maintaining the features of traditional Tuscan markets with typical local characters, Medieval-style shops with typical stone benches, wooden shutters and large canopy rooves. This has always been a popular district, where the shopkeepers themselves often lived, combining commercial activities, convivial meeting places and significant historical and architectural features, including the Renaissance “lion cub” well. Every day a lively market is held here, where both citizens and tourists come to purchase goods from the stalls, shops or temporary outdoor displays.
The district comprises piazza della Sala, piazzetta dell’Ortaggio, piazzetta Romana, via S. Anastasio, vicolo del Cacio, via Castel Cellesi, sdrucciolo dei Cipollini, via Dante de’ Petri, via dei Fabbri, vicolo dei Fuggiti, via del Giglio, via del Lastrone, via della Nave, via Romana and via di Stracceria.

The traditional 19th and 20th century commercial district
The focal point of this area is today’s piazza Gavinana (formerly piazza Cino), a kind of junction of all the main streets, via
Curtatone e Montanara and via Buozzi, and via Cavour, lined with the well-to-do 19th and 20th century shops. From the
second half of the 19th century onwards, cafés, trade centres, the first cinemas and most typical establishments began to
appear along the main streets of the old city centre, with sumptuous furnishings and elegant decor. Some of these old businesses are still active today. Piazza Gavinana still keeps alive the memory of the Globo hotel and café, and traces of furnishings and typical features are still visible in this area, like the wood or metal shop windows, wrought iron street lamps, the glazed structures of the former Eden cinema and the former Lavarini emporium, the doorways and marble signs of the former Savoia café and other eclectic and Liberty-style ornamental details, including the distinctive “globe” flanked on either side by two little bears, the animal which symbolises the city.

The Porta Lucchese district
Via della Madonna is the beginning of a long trading area extending towards Porta Lucchese and the main Pistoia-Lucca road.
The street is lined with a wide range of historical and traditional shops, restaurants, craft shops and studios, alternating with
historical buildings and monuments like the Conservatorio degli orfani, the Bishop’s Palace and Seminary, the churches of S. Vitale and S. Chiara. Outside the old city walls, businesses cluster together in the old, close-knit district around via Nazario Sauro which includes various workshops and crafts businesses. This district includes the late 20th century trading area, consisting of via Atto Vannucci, piazza Treviso and via Attilio Frosini. Piazza Treviso stands on the site of Porta Barriera, opened in 1865 to link the city to the railway station and initiating a process of urbanisation in this part of the city centre with new houses, factories, traditional craft businesses and shops. Following the damage caused by wartime bombing around the Umberto I barracks (formerly the monastery of S. Maria della Neve), the block concerning via Atto Vannucci and via della Costituzione was completely renovated after the Second World War in accordance with an integrated residential and commercial plan. Buildings were erected for housing and shops, including the Lux cinema and Galleria Nazionale, to which Florentine architect Raffaello Fagnoni made a contribution, and which echoes and interprets the theme of the 19th century business arcade in a modern key.

The Porta al Borgo district
Many years ago piazza San Francesco was used as an area for walks and public ceremonies. This square is the focal point of the Porta al Borgo district with commercial installations typical of interurban roads and still shows a detailed, varied network of businesses. In 1930 a fruit and vegetable market was established on the site of the 19th century fronton along the city walls, enclosed by the wrought iron railings made by the Officine Michelucci which used to mark the Porta Barriera. There are several interesting traces of traditional commerce in this area, such as the typical arcades of via Dalmazia, the historical Corsini confectioner’s and unusual buildings like the sculptor Pacini’s studio, now a fishmonger’s, “La Rotonda”.

The Porta San Marco district
The district extends from piazza S. Bartolomeo along the winding via di Porta S. Marco crossing a strongly working-class neighbourhood with craft activities and other commercial businesses outside the city gate in the direction of Montale and the hills behind Pistoia. The houses have ample green space behind and the narrow streets are lined with shops, studios, an old printer’s, small businesses and one of two remaining nursery gardens within the city walls. Saint Bartholomew’s day (according to local tradition the saint is the protector of children) is celebrated on 24th August with a party for small children. The square, the church parvis and via S. Bartolomeo are transformed into a lively market with stalls displaying toys and sweets, including the typical sweet pastry “crowns” which are given to the children. For one day, the square is full of people, adults and children, going into the church for the traditional “anointing”.

The Porta Fiorentina district
The area surrounding the old Porta Fiorentina was a resting and trading place for those coming to the city from Florence and Prato, and it is dense with warehouses, emporia, commercial and crafts businesses selling a very wide range of different products. Via di Porta Carratica is a particularly lively street and exhibitions and small fairs are often held here offering further shopping opportunities.
The Arca area takes its name from the typical carts used to transport livestock, keeping the memory alive of this bridge area between the country and the city with the nearby former cattle market, now a sports ground, and the stabling along via IV Novembre, now used as storerooms and workshops.