Good morning, Pistoia. Here are seven developments to know on Thursday, August 20, selected from local reporting and official updates. Overlapping coverage has been consolidated, and topics featured in yesterday’s edition have been excluded.
1. Major water interruption expected across southern Pistoia on Friday
Residents and businesses in roughly 50 streets in the Vergine area and the southern part of the city should prepare for a prolonged water-service interruption on Friday, August 21. The shutdown is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. and may continue until late evening while new mains are connected in Via Guicciardini and Via Bassa della Vergine. The work may be postponed if weather conditions are unsuitable. Households in the affected area should store only the water they reasonably need and follow Publiacqua updates. Source: Il Tirreno – Pistoia.
2. Summer tourism weakens in the city while the mountains gain
Pistoia’s hospitality sector is reporting a difficult summer, with several hotel and restaurant operators estimating visitor numbers down by between 10 and 40 percent. Businesses cite the prolonged heat, fewer recurring attractions and broader international uncertainty among the factors discouraging city stays. The picture is brighter in cooler mountain areas, including Orsigna, where demand has remained comparatively strong. The contrast underlines the need for better coordination between city culture, events and the province’s outdoor destinations. Source: Il Tirreno – Pistoia.
3. Vatican rejects Don Massimo Biancalani’s appeals over parish removal
The Vatican has rejected the appeals filed by Don Massimo Biancalani against his removal from the parishes of Vicofaro and Ramini, according to local reports. The priest, whose migrant-support work has long been at the centre of public and ecclesiastical debate in Pistoia, has a further 60-day window to challenge the decisions. He remains a priest, but the ruling marks a significant new stage in a dispute that has affected both parish life and the future of local reception activities. Sources: Il Tirreno – Pistoia and Report Pistoia.
4. Pistoia ranks among Italy’s cities hardest hit by inflation
New consumer-price data place Pistoia seventh nationally for the estimated annual impact of inflation on a typical household. Prices were reported 3.1 percent higher, corresponding to about €872 in additional yearly spending for an average family. Tuscany as a whole recorded the strongest regional increase. The figures add pressure to household budgets already affected by housing, utilities and local-service costs. Source: La Nazione – Pistoia.
5. Pescia introduces weekly limits on mushroom gathering
To protect woodland ecosystems during the main picking season, Pescia has introduced restrictions for mushroom collectors who are not residents of the municipality. Through October 31, non-residents may not gather mushrooms on Tuesdays and Fridays. The measure follows approval of the municipality’s request by the Tuscany Region. Anyone planning a trip should check the applicable permit rules and any exceptions before entering the woods. Source: La Nazione – Montecatini.
6. Communities prepare to remember the Padule di Fucecchio massacre
Municipalities and associations around the Fucecchio Marsh are preparing commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the Nazi massacre of August 23, 1944, one of the gravest attacks on civilians in Tuscany during the Second World War. The remembrance programme renews a shared commitment to preserving testimony and passing the history of the victims to younger generations. Residents attending ceremonies should consult the participating municipalities for final times and locations. Source: Report Pistoia.
7. Education office returns to normal opening hours next week
Thursday, August 20 is the final day of the temporary summer closure of the municipal Education and Instruction Service’s afternoon counters. The office remains open to the public on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; ordinary hours, including Tuesday and Thursday afternoon openings from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., resume on Monday, August 24. Telephone and email channels remain available for school meals, transport, nurseries and preschool information. Source: Comune di Pistoia.
This briefing was prepared from local and official sources available on the morning of August 20, 2026. Service arrangements and event details may change; follow the linked sources for subsequent updates.