dal sito http://www.ngw.nl/indexgb.htm Italian Civic Heraldry (per la traduzione clicca qui)

PISTOIA

Origin/Meaning:
The chequered field is said to have been derived from the symbol of St. James, the scallop. How this was transformed into a field with 36 squares is not clear. The bears were added in the second half of the 14th century to remind the citizens of the town's supremacy over the mountainous region. The bears also symbolise the pride of the local people. The bears have the local nickname of Il micco, or the stupid, because they have lost all attributes of bravery...

Image of the arms on a fresco in the town hall

Literature : Anonymous : 500 Stemmi di comuni Italiani. Milano, 1940; background and second image from Pistoia [an unknown jewel] : new city guide / Maria Grazia Ricci ; transl. Paola Cariglia ; Photo. Roberto Degli Innocenti. - Pistoia bookshop : Pistoia, 2001 (send to me by mail)