Osservatorio astronomico della Montagna Pistoiese
Astronomical observatory at 1,000 metres above sea level, with evening visits by reservation, lectures and telescope observation, and the Parco delle Stelle.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Osservatorio astronomico della Montagna Pistoiese, in the municipality of San Marcello Piteglio, was built in 1990 by the Comune di San Marcello Pistoiese with the collaboration of the Province of Pistoia, the Comune di Piteglio and the Regione Toscana. It was designed as a laboratory open to the scientific and research activities of schools, and as a centre promoting educational initiatives for students and adults, in a perspective of lifelong learning.
The facility has two domes, five metres in diameter. The first houses a 40 cm telescope, used mainly for guided visits; the second, built in 2003, houses a 60 cm telescope, remotely controllable since 2020 thanks to the 2019 Shoemaker Grant from the Planetary Society. There is also a 50-seat lecture hall and a control room, where a camera of the PRISMA network for the study of fireballs is installed. Hundreds of new asteroids have been discovered from the observatory.
The observatory is run by the GAMP APS, the Gruppo Astrofili della Montagna Pistoiese, under an agreement with the Comune, and is visited by thousands of people every year. Next to it is the Parco delle Stelle, with free admission, featuring an educational path that reproduces the solar system to scale and a sun platform 7 metres in diameter by the artist Andrea Dami; the area is known for one of the darkest skies in Italy.
Highlights
- Visit with lecture, telescope observation and identification of constellations
- 40 cm telescope for visits and 60 cm telescope operated remotely
- Parco delle Stelle with the solar system to scale, always free of charge
- One of the darkest skies in Italy, at 1,000 metres above sea level
- Observation of the Sun in the morning for schools and groups
- Founded
- 1990
- Operated by
- Comune di San Marcello Piteglio (gestione GAMP APS)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3visitors under 14 years old |
| Children & teens | €3Reduced rate for under-14s. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Visits take place with a minimum of 10 bookings and a maximum of 50. |
Payment at the observatory by debit card or credit card only. The Parco delle Stelle next to the observatory is always free of charge.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Only the lecture hall and the computer room on the ground floor are accessible to visitors with disabilities; the domes are on the first floor, reachable only by a staircase without handrail, lift or stairlift.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 8+
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|
The visit is recommended for visitors aged 8 and over; for schools there are morning solar observations and educational activities.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking · 30 m to the entrance
Free car park about 30 metres from the entrance.
The observatory is about 3 km from Gavinana, at Pian de' Termini, and is reached in about 40 minutes from Pistoia. There is a viewpoint nearby.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
Up to 50 guests.
The observatory has a 50-seat lecture hall with a video projector.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The visit lasts about 120 minutes: a basic introductory lecture in the lecture hall (50–70 minutes), telescope observation of a visible celestial object and an outdoor explanation of the constellations. Recommended from age 8 upwards; minors must be accompanied. Warm clothing and closed non-slip shoes are advised (altitude of 1,000 metres). Coaches with 50 seats cannot reach the observatory. Access is only for those who have booked; if you cannot attend, cancelling the booking is compulsory. |
