Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tractive
Duomo di San Martino
(1256) with its distinctive 36m-tall, red-brick bell tower -
actually unfinished (the red brick was meant to have a marble cladding).
Next door, the deconsecrated 13th- century
Chiesa di Sant'Agostino
(Piazza del Duomo; hr
vary)
is a wonderfully evocative venue for art exhibitions. Inside the convent adjoining the
church dozens of moulds of famous sculptures cast or carved in Pietrasanta are showcased
by the
Museo dei Bozzetti
(
05 8479 5500;
www.museodeibozzetti.it
;
Via Sant'Agostino 1;
2-7pm
Tue-Sat, 4-7pm Sun)
.
Around the corner from the cathedral is the old-world atmospheric
baptistry
(Baptistery;
Via Garibaldi 12; variable)
. The pair of baptismal fonts - one originally in the cathedral in
the 16th century and the other, a hexagonal tub (1389) used two centuries before for full
immersion baptisms - form a dramatic ensemble in the tiny candle-lit space. Afterwards
stroll the length of pedestrian
Via Garibaldi
, a chic strip peppered with stylish fashion
boutiques and art galleries. Highlights guaranteed to tempt include multibrand fashion
queen and trendsetter
Zoe
(
www.zoecompany.eu
; Via Garibaldi 29, & 44-46; 10am-1pm & 5pm-
midnight, to 8pm winter)
with boutiques for women and men (where Paul Smith's wife bought
her husband a scarf); vintage furniture design boutique
Lei
(Via Garibaldi 22)
; concept store
Dada
(
www.dadaconcept.it
;
Via Garibaldi 39)
; and fashion designer
Paolo Milani
(Via Garibaldi 11)
whose studio is a riot of bold vibrant prints and a wild mix of textures covering the whole
sombre -to-sequin-sparkly spectrum.
Holiday money well and truly blown, meander back to the cathedral square and contin-
ue the shopping parade on
Via Giuseppe Mazzini
, the town's main shopping strip bookended
by contemporary street sculptures. End on an artistic high with the superb
Chiesa della
Misericordia
(Via Mazzini 103; variable)
, frescoed with the
Gate of Paradise
and
Gate of
Hell
by Botero (the artist portrays himself in hell). Look for it tucked between shops.
Sleeping
Le Camere di Filippo
( 05 847 00 10; Via Stagio Stagi 22; d €100; )
A fabulous address with two kitchens
and four fantastic rooms, each with a different colour scheme and crisp design.
B&B
€
Albergo Pietrasanta
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
€€€
(
05 8479 3726;
www.albergopietrasanta.com
; Via Garibaldi 35; s €132-231, d €213-277;
)
Should you find yourself totally smitten with Pietrasanta and unable to leave, this chic
