|  The
town of Pescia takes its name after the river which divides
it in two parts and which makes it cool and pleasant for
visits especially during the spring and summer.
The Medici
family was very important for this city. Leone X - Medici's
Pope - erected its first parish in 1519 and then the same
family improved its economy. The main economy in the past
was from water, in fact paper, leather and silk were their
main sources. Today Pescia lives on flower cultivation
and tourism.
It has a typical row of houses
which start from the top of the hill and end at Villa Garzoni:
this villa and its baroque garden "All'Italiana" was designed
and made during 17th century together with the villa and
has been enriched in the following century with statues
and magnificent fountains.
 Today one of the major centres of the
Valdinievole, Pescia consolidated its political role at
the end of the XIIth century in the Carolingian Age when,
after gaining freedom from the imperial power, it became
a free city-state (or "Commune") together with the neighbouring
town of Lucca.
From the XIIth up to the late XIIIth century
Pescia was a prosperous town, in spite of a certain degree
of dependence on Lucca. But the year 1281 was a year
of doom for Pescia: the town was sacked and laid waste
following a rebellion against the overlords of Lucca, a
town which at the time was the seat of the imperial viceroy).
 The complex historical events concerning the struggles
between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines involved the
majority of the Pescia area, particularly the fortified
villages that were perched on the surrounding hilltops; by virtue of their
strategically dominant position, these hilltop villages
were to become the theatre of endless battles between
the opposing cities of Florence, Lucca and Pisa.
After the long reconstruction that followed the 1281 pillage, Pescia remained
within the sphere of influence of Lucca; it was only after 1328, upon the death
of Castruccio Castracani, that Pescia experienced a brief period of complete
independence, and established the League of the Communes of the Valdinievole
jointly with the towns of Buggiano, Montecatini, Monsummano, Uzzano, Vellano,
Sorico, Pietrabuona and Collodi.
At the end of 12th century Pescia freed
itself from Imperial powers and became an independent Municipality. Today, with its long-ago but still prestigious,
industrial tradition, the economy of Pescia has developed
in the nursery-gardening sector. The " Biennale dei Fiori " in
Pescia is one of the most important expositions of cut
flowers and takes place here every two years. It is surrounded
by lot of picturesque valley with wonderful flowers, olive-groves
and vineyards. It is very romantic to exploring them walking
on the ancient food paths, called "mulattiere".
What to see in Pescia
In the old medieval town centre we'll visit Palazzo del Vicario, decorated
with coats of arms of Florentine vicars, today seat of the Town Hall; The
Church of St. Francesco, which has the most autenthic painting on wood of
St. Francisc, painted by Bonaventura Berlinghieri; than we'll visit the Church
of San Antonio and last The Palagio or Palazzo del Podestà, both beautiful
and characteristic buildings of 14th century.
Other links about Pescia
town Pistoia:
www.pescia.net
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