San Marcello Pistoiese, settlement in the Italian municipality of San Marcello Piteglio
San Marcello Pistoiese is an abolished municipality in the Pistoia Mountains of Tuscany that became part of the larger municipality of San Marcello Piteglio in 2017. The village sits at about 620 meters (2,000 feet) on a forested hilltop with old stone buildings and narrow streets, surrounded by the wooded hills and valleys of the mountain region.
The area was inhabited by local tribes like the Ligures long before Roman times and later became an independent medieval town with its own government. In the 16th century it was destroyed by Francesco Ferrucci during a conflict but was rebuilt and became important as a trade hub after a road to Pistoia opened in 1781.
San Marcello serves as the mountain capital of the region and houses the relics of Saint Celestina, the patron saint of the mountains. On September 8th, the town celebrates its festival with the launching of a hot air balloon, a tradition brought from France by the Cini Brothers.
The village is best explored on foot as narrow streets and paved paths define its layout. Popular walking routes like the CAI-marked Trail 2 start from near the hospital parking lot and lead through the woods to viewpoints and into the surrounding mountains.
Italy's longest pedestrian suspension bridge connects parts of the village across the Lima River, giving walkers a distinctive route over the water. Nearby stands the Pistoia Mountains Astronomical Observatory where visitors can observe stars and planets.
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