Battistero Residenza d'Epoca

Battistero Residenza d'Epoca

, Vicolo San Giovanni in Corte, 4, Pistoia, Pistoia.

Halfway between Pisa and Florence, Pistoia is another typical Tuscan city of narrow alleys, piazzas and grand architecture. Right in the centre of the city is the Battistero Residenza d’Epoca hotel. Tucked away behind the Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte, this is an ideal place to feel the vibrant life of the city from behind well isolated walls.

The guest rooms are beautifully decorated with clean neutral colours contrasted with one strong accent colour to draw out the character of the room. There are big beds, a minibar, television and a luxurious bathroom. Some look out onto the nearby pizza and marketplace, while others are more intimate and tucked-away for the most tranquil stays. The suite has the added convenience of a private relaxation space with a comfortable sofa that can also be transformed into two additional beds if required. For a top-of-the-range stay in Pistoia, the King Deluxe Suite offers space in abundance and a panoramic view of the city including the soaring dome of the Church of the Madonna. There’s the distant sound of the market below and the echo of church bells, and the scene is completed by the verdant Tuscany hills in the background.

Under the same ownership next door, the Osteria Bonodinulla is the restaurant for the hotel. Guests and visitors can enjoy everything from a quick snack to a formal dinner, and it’s a popular place for an evening aperitif on the edge of the piazza, watching the world go by. The restaurant has dedicated itself to the best of authentic Tuscan cuisine, all prepared in harmony with the seasons. Each day the chefs go out to the marketplace directly in front to buy their fruit and vegetables, ensuring the freshest possible ingredients. Breakfast in the Osteria, accessed directly from within the hotel, is a meal to set you up for the day. Bread is baked fresh every morning and served still warm. Meats, cheeses and milk come from the best local suppliers. And then there’s the coffee!

The Battistero Residenza is family-owned by two long-standing Pistoia families who have been in the food and hospitality business for decades. They opened the Osteria in 2015 and added the hotel in 2017, following long a careful restoration of their ancient mediaeval building.