Presentation

The publication of the Guide, I LUOGHI DEL COMMERCIO A PISTOIA. Botteghe e mercati storici e di tradizione completes the first phase of a project begun in 2005. The town of Pistoia, in collaboration with the Technical Support Centres Confcommercio and Confesercenti, is taking part in a special regional competition aiming for the promotion of “… development and competitivity opportunities for local districts and businesses” finalized in the regional Botteghe e Mercati di Toscana project.
Pistoia’s project involved a fact-finding inquiry which conformed to criteria and parameters established by the Region of Tuscany, in preparation for the publication of a guide to Pistoia’s traditional shops and markets.
The project began in early 2006 when all the businesses were contacted, provided with basic information regarding the requirements for recognition of historical status, and informed of the impending interview about the history of the business with photographs of the premises.
The inquiry was carried out under the supervision of two experts, Andrea Ottanelli and Gianluca Chelucci (trained historians in commerce and architecture respectively), for the inquiry methods and adaptation of the criteria and the regional assessment and selection grids for an accurate reading of the city’s historical commercial network.
The district in question was the Natural Trading Centre. The inquiry highlighted a traditional historical fabric that is still interesting and rich in values and emerging factors in the city’s trading and promotional marketing areas. The response of these businesses - and above all the results obtained - far exceeded any expectations.
As well as providing an accurate and complete picture of all the traditional, historical businesses in the town centre and the overall municipal district, the inquiry revealed how closely connected the trading spaces are to the tradition and history of the local community and how they are still present and alive in its heart.
The preliminary mapping involving over two hundred businesses overall highlighted the urgent need for support action and protection of the existing situation, as well as the extent to which the historical trading area is a precious resource and image for the city and its cultural, historical, economical and touristic identity.
The original project behind this guide includes the creation of a website (still under design) where it will be possible to consult and use the guide online as well as accessing information pages about city trading managed by the businesses themselves.
This first edition of the guide therefore represents the summary of a preliminary inquiry containing the information regarding commercial, market and traditional businesses who took part in the project and fulfilled the selection criteria (these criteria are detailed in the presentation).
This first presentation aims to become an incentive for all the city’s businesses and companies who identify with the criteria of historical and traditional status to become involved. It is an opportunity for all of us to build and keep updated an “Atlas of historical traditional businesses and crafts in the city and local area” as a valuable affirmation of life and history in our community.
The objective is to protect the whole network of historical businesses and focus on all the aspects linking it to the global local identity for purposes of both conservation and promotion and marketing of the city as a whole.