The City Museum of Pistoia has, since 1912, been located in the Magistrate’s Palace (Palazzo Pretorio) which has undergone numerous and extensive restorations. The museum was, however, established by the Grand-duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena in 1788 and officially opened in the City Hall (Palazzo Comunale) in 1858.
The City Museum, and the annexed City Gallery, a considerable group of masterpieces from the early Renaissance are preserved. Through the approximately 200 works – paintings (the majority) and various objects (glass, majolica and porcelain, boxes) – it is possible to appreciate the artistic history of the city: from the Romanesque period (alterpiece of San Francesco by an unknown artist), to the Giotto period (Lamentation of Christ by Lippo di Benivieni, Madonna and saints by Giotto, Sacred Conversations by Lorenzo di Credi), to the 15th century (works by Giacinto Gimignani of Pistoia). The Puccini Collection of approximately 70 works is also worthy of note. Visitors to the City Museum should not miss several pieces by Fra Filippo Lippi (Nativity and Madonna of the block), as well as his son, Filippino, a triptych by Lorenzo Monaco, and several della Robbia pieces.
The collection of paintings held in the City Hall, the so-called Quadreria, is a sort of detached portion of the City Museum collection and dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. The Cathedral Museum has been located in the Bishop’s Palace (Palazzo Vescovile) since 1967 where works from the cathedral and the Chapel of the Sacred Belt can be seen.