Abetone Cutigliano
Abetone Cutigliano is a municipality in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, created in 2017 by merging the two historic mountain tow...
Updated 21 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Abetone Cutigliano now
The story
The story of Abetone Cutigliano
A municipality among the Apennine peaks
The municipality of Abetone Cutigliano lies in the highest part of the province of Pistoia, along the Apennine ridge that separates Tuscany from Emilia-Romagna. It includes the famous Passo dell'Abetone, a historic mountain pass at over 1,380 metres, and the village of Cutigliano, set further down the valley. Surrounded by beech and fir woods, the landscape alternates scenic ridges, mountain streams and small settlements that have kept a strong connection to mountain life, far from the rhythms of Tuscany's better-known cities and coastline.
History and origins
The present-day municipality was created in January 2017 through the merger of Abetone and Cutigliano, two communities with distinct histories but a shared bond with the Pistoia mountains. Cutigliano, the older settlement, was for centuries the seat of the Capitano della Montagna and still preserves its historic core, including the Palazzo Pretorio, decorated with the coats of arms of the families that governed the area over time. Abetone developed later as a holiday and winter-sports resort around the pass of the same name, becoming one of Tuscany's best-known mountain destinations during the 20th century.
Nature and landscape
The Pistoia mountains give Abetone Cutigliano one of the most striking natural landscapes in northern Tuscany: extensive beech and silver fir forests, high-altitude pastures and small watercourses such as the Sestaione stream, which flows down from the pass towards the valley. The area is a popular destination for hikes along scenic ridges and centuries-old woods, with views stretching from the Apennine peaks to the valleys below. The mountain climate brings snowy winters and cool summers, making this one of the few areas in Tuscany suited to both winter sports and summer trekking.
What to do and see
Among the main activities in Abetone Cutigliano are skiing and winter sports around the pass, which comes alive with slopes and lifts in winter, while in the warmer months it makes way for walks, mountain biking and hikes along the ridges bordering Emilia-Romagna. In Cutigliano, visitors can instead enjoy a stroll through the historic village, among stone lanes, the main square and the Palazzo Pretorio, discovering the municipality's older soul. The combination of a well-equipped mountain resort and a historic village makes the area suitable both for active stays and for quieter, more cultural visits.
Flavours and traditions
The cuisine of Abetone Cutigliano reflects its mountain character: porcini mushrooms gathered in the surrounding woods, chestnuts turned into flour for sweet polenta and necci, mountain cheeses and cured meats typical of the Pistoia Apennines make up a simple, genuine table suited to those coming back from a day outdoors. Local traditions, tied to the cycle of the seasons and mountain life, stay alive through village festivals, autumn fairs dedicated to mushrooms and chestnuts, and craftsmanship recalling the area's historic trades, from woodworking to wool processing.
Not to be missed
- Passo dell'Abetone and its border-ridge views
- Cutigliano's historic centre with the Palazzo Pretorio
- The beech and fir forests of the Pistoia Apennines
- The mountain ski slopes and hiking trails
- Mountain flavours: mushrooms, chestnuts and local cheeses
To see
What to see in Abetone Cutigliano
Routes · Trovido Route
