MEET GIANLUCA
The man who dug up a dream
A childhood story transformed into a real underground museum.
Pistoia Sotterranea wasn’t born from a grand project. It was born from a children’s book.
As a child, Gianluca read Sussi e Biribissi (written by the nephew of Carlo Collodi—the author of Pinocchio!). Two kids, a candle, and a mysterious underground world—that was enough to ignite his imagination and spark a lifelong fascination with what lies beneath our feet.
From that moment, he knew one thing: one day he would go underground and uncover a hidden story of his own. He was inspired by a famous legend passed down in Pistoia about a secret passage beneath the city that led to the Fortress of Santa Barbara.
Not a researcher behind a desk, but a man of action and adventure—Gianluca grew up to become an architect, historian, and archaeologist, and went on to lead Pistoia’s Institute for Historical and Archaeological Research (IRSA). One day, while investigating the possible existence of that secret passage, he noticed something unusual beneath the Ospedale del Ceppo—maybe the tunnel was real! And so he started digging. Literally.
From the first stone, he and a group of local volunteers—especially Simone Zini—began digging the underground channels by hand. No big machines. No construction companies. Just passion, patience, and eighteen years of muddy work, lit only by flashlights and determination.
They rediscovered a forgotten river beneath the city. What they uncovered had once been a medieval moat, then a hospital sewer channel, and finally, something completely lost to time. As they cleared the tunnels, they uncovered:
- Roman and medieval bridges
- Ancient civic walls and vaulted brick ceilings
- Renaissance ceramics and medical containers
- The long-buried path of the Brana River
Each discovery was a new piece in the puzzle of Pistoia’s forgotten history.
Pistoia Sotterranea, as you see it today, wasn’t built. It was brought to light by Gianluca himself. Every step of the underground route reflects his vision, his research, and his passion. He’s not just the museum’s director—he’s its storyteller, its guardian, and the man who gave a buried city its voice.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being an explorer, this is your chance. Book a tour—and if you’re lucky, you might meet Gianluca himself, still carrying a shovel and a flashlight, searching for the next hidden chapter in Pistoia’s underground history.
