Montecatini is very centrally located in Tuscany and you can easily reach all the main touristic and artistic points of interest, ar cities, Chianti, beaches and mountains.

Very close to Montecatini there are beauties to discover

MONTECATINI ALTO (3 km)

The funicular leaves from Montecatini and in a few minutes reaches the castle village of Montecatini Alto, born before the current Montecatini. Until 1554 Montecatini Alto was surrounded by a circular wall with eight doors. Today only one ancient door has been saved and some towers are now part of other buildings. Sites to see, the main square, Oratorio di San Sebastiano, Saint Peter's Church with the bell tower and the Museum.

PESCIA (9 km) , COLLODI  (11 km) and VALDINIEVOLE

Pescia was a an historic and important city at Medici time and has beautiful monuments and churches. Pescia is worldwide famous as a gastronomic capital because of some special doc products: Sorana beans, cultivated only in the fields on Sorana river, the "cioncia" stew prepared with the beef nose and cheek, and the chestnut pancakes called "necci" to be tasted with fresh ricotta cheese.

Everybody knows: Collodi is Pinocchio' native place and you can visit the park dedicated to Pinocchio and the beautiful Villa Garzoni with the barocque park

The Valdinievole ia also named  "Switzerland Pesciatina", hills and mountains, full of water and sources, olive trees and chestnut woods and oaks but above all nice little villages.

MONSUMMANO (4 km) and CHOCOLATE VALLEY

Monsummano Terme is worldwide know for the natural spa groves but other attractions are the brand new Museuom of Contemporary Art (MAC) and the Villa Medicea in Montevettolini.
Monsummano is aso famous for its maitre chocolatier and for the event "Cioccolosità" that hosts in Monsummano the best of chocolate art. Montecatini is together with Agliana and Prato the centre o Tuscany Chocolate Valley with many chocolate artisans who will make you taste chocolate and coffee.

VINCI (22 km), LAMPORECCHIO (17 km) and MONTALBANO VINEYARDS

The genius Leonardo was born in Vinci and you can visit the Museo Leonardiano, the house of Leonardo.
Vinci is in the Montalbano area,an excellent production area of oil and wine

Lamporecchio has a beautiful historic centre with the monumental Villa Rospigliosi and it is famous for "brigidini" cakes.

MONTECARLO (15 km)

Montecarlo is set between Valdinievole and Lucchesia and it is an ancient village of 1300, perfectly saved with many monuments such as the Fortezza, la Chiesa di Saint Andrew's Church and the Theatre of Rassicurati (end of 1700).
Montecarlo area is full of caves and farms where you can taste best of oil and wines such as White Montecarlo and Red Montecarlo..

PONTE BUGGIANESE (6 km)

Buggiano, Borgo a Buggiano and Colle are fascinating little villages. In Ponte Buggianese, in Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo, you can admire the frescos of the "queen painter" Pietro Annigoni and his school.

CAPANNORI (26 km)

26 km from Montecatini, Capannori is famous for the marvellous villas built by Lucca merchants between 1400 and 1800 :  Villa Mansi, Villa Torrigiani, Villa Reale and the gardens

PISTOIA (15 km)

Pistoia was founded by etruscans and then was a roman oppidum, it is rich of romanic and renaissance monuments. Piazza del Duomo is one of the most beautiful squares in the world, with San Zeno Cathedral, the bell tower, the Baptistere in white and green marbles, the City Hall and Catilina tower, where acconding to a legent was buried the body of the roman general.
Don't miss the Ospedale del Ceppo with the magnificent decoration of Della Robbia and the Museum of Chirurgic Instruments
In Pistoia two important events take place every year: the Giostra dell'Orso, a traditional palio with horses representing the four suburbs, and Pistoia Blues, one of the most important jaxx festival in Europe.

LUCCA (30 km)

Lucca is one of the most beautiful art cities in Italy. Its outstanding monument is the perfect walls which surround the city.
You can walk on the walls and enjoy a beautiful view on the ancient city centre.
Named as " the city of the 100 churches" offers the beauty of medieval and renaissance buildings, squares and towers
Not to be missed: the Cathedral of di San Martino,San Michele Church  and the Anfitheatre Square, born on the ruins of the ancient roman Anfitheatre.