or Pistoia (anc. Pistoria), a town of Tuscany, in the province of Florence, near the Ombrone, not far from the opening of the valley of that river into that of the Arno, 21 miles N.W. of Florence. It is inclosed with lofty ramparts bearing the Medici arms, and covers a large extent of ground; though, as the population is not commensurate with the size of the town, much of the space is occupied with gardens. The streets and squares are broad, and lined with handsome buildings, but they are pervaded with that dulness which characterizes many Italian towns. Many of the public buildings possess much interest. The cathedral has been built at different dates, and the interior modernized in 1838 and 1839. Though not very remarkable for architecture, it contains a great variety of paintings, sculptures, and monuments. Opposite the cathedral is a baptistery in the Italian-Gothic style. The church of St Andrew, which was probably the original cathedral, contains a finely-carved pulpit by Giovanni da Pisa. Several of the other churches in the town are remarkable for their architecture or the paintings they contain. The Palazzo Pretorio and the Palazzo della Communita, Italian-Gothic buildings of the thirteenth century; the episcopal palace, built in 1787; and other similar buildings, are among the ornaments of Pistoja. The town has also several convents, a large hospital founded in 1218, a clerical seminary and other schools, two good public libraries, and a theatre. Pistols are said to have been so named because first made at Pistoja; but they are not now manufactured here. Musket-barrels, cutlery, nails, iron wire, musical instruments, silk fabrics, &c., are produced. Some trade is carried on in silk, straw bonnets, and other articles. Pistoria was originally an Etruscan town, but no remains of this period have been preserved. It was a municipal town of small importance under the Romans, and is only historically remarkable for its proximity to the scene of the final defeat and death of Catiline, B.C. 62. Under the Lombards, Pistoja was a place of importance, and was surrounded by walls. After being for some time independent, it became subject to Florence about the middle of the twelfth century. From the dissensions of the Pistoian family of Cancelleri arose in 1296 the factions of the Bianchi and Neri, whose contentions spread to Florence, and involved it, as well as Pistoja, in the greatest calamities. Finally, in 1306, Pistoja was surrendered to the Neri, who destroyed its walls, a blow from which the town never recovered. Pop. 12,387.