Museum of the City and Territory

The story of the Valdinievole under one roof

The Museum of the City and Territory offers one of the clearest introductions to Monsummano Terme and the wider Valdinievole. Its displays connect geology, archaeology, wetland life, medieval settlements, thermal culture, craft traditions and twentieth-century social history. It is an especially useful stop for travellers who want to understand how the landscape shaped the towns and communities around Pistoia.

A historic pilgrims’ inn

The museum occupies the Osteria dei Pellegrini, commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici and designed by Gherardo Mechini in the early seventeenth century. The building originally welcomed pilgrims travelling to the nearby Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontenuova. After later serving civic and judicial functions, it was restored and opened as a museum in 1998.

Highlights of the collection

The permanent route moves from fossils and local stone to archaeological finds, models of fortified villages and material connected with the Padule di Fucecchio. Other sections explore grand-ducal farms, popular devotion, the development of thermal tourism, traditional manufacturing and migration. The museum also preserves objects from the Treasure of Maria Santissima della Fontenuova and includes a memorial section dedicated to the massacre of the Fucecchio Marsh in 1944.

Planning your visit

The museum forms part of Mu.Bi., the civic museum-and-library complex in central Monsummano Terme. It is recognised as a museum of regional significance and received a special mention from the European Museum Forum in 2001. Opening arrangements and extraordinary events can change, so consult the official website before travelling. The museum provides an accessible entrance with a ramp, lift and adapted facilities; contact staff in advance for specific assistance.

Sources
Museum of the City and Territory — official website
SIMUP — Museum of the City and Territory
Visit Tuscany — museum profile
Official 2026 service charter
Cover image: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons