Discover Piastre: Ice History, Culture and a Circular Trail

Piastre combines Tuscan history with an unusual special feature: in Le Piastre, you can trace the significance that natural ice production once had in the Pistoia Mountains. There is also a historic parish church, a distinctive historic fountain complex, a circular trail and an annual festival. If you would like to combine culture, landscape and regional traditions, the town therefore offers several clearly distinct points of interest.

A place on the road across the Apennines

Le Piastre was founded by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo during the construction of the road across the Apennines. This history of its origins connects the town with a historic route across the Apennines. In the town, the Fontana Campari draws attention to another part of its history: it is one of three surviving fountain complexes from a series created around 1930. Sant'Ilario is also significant for understanding Piastre's history. The parish was established in 1785 from an earlier oratory. The present-day Sant'Ilario Church dates in its design to the second half of the 19th century. Different historical layers therefore come together in one place: the town's foundation during the road construction, its ecclesiastical development since the late 18th century and the later design of the present church building.

Ice history in the Apennines

The Itinerario del Ghiaccio traces the history of natural ice production in the Pistoia Mountains from the end of the 18th century to the first decades of the 20th century. For your visit, it is particularly important to know that this themed trail can be explored in two different ways: independently on foot or with a GAE environmental hiking guide. You can therefore discover the history on your own or opt for a guided experience. The documented sites include the Ghiacciaia della Madonnina. It has a truncated-cone shape and a thatched roof. The name of the circular trail, La Valle del Ghiaccio, also precisely describes its thematic focus. The start and finish are at the Fontana Campari near the Le Piastre Pass on Via Modenese. This means that the fountain complex and the circular trail can be considered together for orientation, without equating the two attractions. The area around Le Piastre is protected in cooperation with the Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese. This institutional connection is part of the character of the town, as are the visible traces of its history.

Festivals and regional traditions

Le Piastre is also known for an unusual annual event: the Italian Lie Championship, the Campionato Italiano della Bugia, takes place every year in August. It is therefore one of the town's recurring cultural events and deliberately contrasts with the more historical narrative of the Itinerario del Ghiaccio. At the traditional Sagra della Polenta Dolce in Le Piastre on March 30, 2025, from 3 p.m., visitors could enjoy polenta dolce, necci and sweet fritters made from chestnut flour. For further regional orientation, you can also explore Santomato (Santomato), Cireglio (Cireglio), Pontelungo (Pontelungo), Ponte Nuovo (Ponte Nuovo), Sammommè (Sammommè), Bottegone (Bottegone), Sarripoli (Sarripoli) and Piteccio (Piteccio).

For the main travel overview: Pistoia.