Museo di San Salvatore

The former church of San Salvatore in Pistoia now houses a museum devoted to the city’s origins. Archaeological remains from Roman and early-medieval periods lie beneath the church, while the restored interior includes a fragmentary Lamentation over the Dead Christ, attributed to the circle of Lippo di Benivieni.

Why it matters

Excavations during the church’s restoration revealed successive layers of Pistoia’s past, including part of an eighth-century foundation trench associated with the city’s first wall. The museum interprets these remains through displays and multimedia material, alongside the church’s fresco fragments.

What to notice

The archaeological remains show how the site developed over time. In the street outside, a tabernacle is associated with the local tradition that Catiline’s tomb stood here; nearby building traces date to the second and first centuries BC. The fragmentary Lamentation over the Dead Christ, dating to the late thirteenth century, is attributed to the circle of Lippo di Benivieni.

Context and history

Local tradition identifies San Salvatore as Pistoia’s first church, and records document it from the tenth century. It served as a parish church until its suppression in the late eighteenth century by Bishop Scipione de’ Ricci. Restoration began in 2015 and brought archaeological layers and fresco fragments to light. In 2022, the building returned to the city as a cultural venue managed by Fondazione Pistoia Musei.