Pratese

<< Tuscany

The Province of Prato is a small and narrow strip of land located between Florence and Pistoia. The provincial capital houses several historic attractions, while a few landmarks can also be found outside the city.

Prato

Prato is the second largest city in Tuscany, located between Florence and Pistoia. Inhabited since ancient times, the town emerged in the Late Middle Ages thanks to its textile industry. Prato experienced a huge development in the 20th century and it is now a large industrial center. The city also features various historic landmarks, and it is known for its large Chinese community.

✪ Prato Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santo Stefano (Cattedrale di Santo Stefano)

The Prato Cathedral (Duomo di Prato) is the main church of Prato, founded during the Middle Ages and rebuilt in Romanesque style. Its facade is richly decorated and features a 15th-century external pulpit made by Michelozzo and Donatello. The church houses several artworks and a large cycle of frescoes painted by Filippo Lippi, the masterpiece of the artist. A decorated chapel inside the church houses the relic of the Sacro Cingolo, a belt that, according to tradition, was given to Saint Thomas by Mary, mother of Jesus.

Prato Cathedral Museum

The Prato Cathedral Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Prato) is a museum of religious art hosted in the Palazzo Vescovile adjacent to the Prato Cathedral. The museum houses a collection of historic art pieces spanning several centuries. The museum also includes some frescoed halls and various archaeological finds.

Palazzo Pretorio

Palazzo Pretorio is a historic building in Prato, erected between the 13th and 14th century. The palace was for centuries the town hall of Prato, but now it hosts an art museum. The collection of this museum includes various paintings and sculptures dating from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In front of the palace there is a monument dedicated to 14th-century merchant Francesco Datini.

Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri

The Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri is a Renaissance church built in Prato during the 15th century. The basilica is one of the earliest examples of Renaissance church with a Greek cross plan, and it hosts various interesting artworks.

Emperor’s Castle

The Emperor’s Castle (Castello dell’Imperatore) is a medieval castle in Prato. The building was erected in various phases during the Late Middle Ages, and it was restored during the 20th century. The castle features imposing towers and walls, and it can be visited.

Church of San Francesco

The Church of San Francesco is a historic church in Prato, founded in the 13th century and one of the earliest religious sites dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. The church features various decorations and artworks, and it hosts a richly frescoed chapel and the marble tomb of 14th-century merchant Francesco Datini.

Prato Textile Museum

The Prato Textile Museum (Museo del Tessuto di Prato) is a museum in Prato dedicated to the long history of the textile industry in Prato, which dates back to the Late Middle Ages. The museum is hosted in a former textile mill, and it features various historic pieces of industrial equipment and numerous clothes.

Walls of Prato

The walls that to this day surround most of the old town of Prato were originally erected in the 12th century, and were later expanded. Various sections of the walls survive today, along with some ancient city gates and ramparts.

Italian Museum of Planetary Sciences

The Italian Museum of Planetary Sciences (Museo Italiano di Scienze Planetarie) is a museum of astronomy and mineralogy in Prato. The museum houses exhibits on the history of the universe and the Solar System, and it features a large collection of meteorites.

Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art

The Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art (Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci) is a museum and cultural center dedicated to contemporary art in Prato. The museum is hosted in a modern building and it houses many artworks by Italian and international artists from the 20th and 21st century.

Deportation and Resistance Museum

The Deportation and Resistance Museum (Museo della Deportazione e Resistenza) is a museum located in the small town of Figline, just north of Prato, which was the site of a Nazi massacre in 1944. The museum is dedicated to the history of the city during World War II and the Italian Resistance, and features exhibits on the Nazi concentration and extermination camp system.

Poggio a Caiano

Poggio a Caiano is a small town located at the foot of the mountains south of Prato, best known for its large historic villa.

Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano

The Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano is a historic villa built by the Medici family between the 15th and 16th century, and later reworked several times. The villa features richly decorated halls hosting various frescoes and artworks, and it is surrounded by large gardens. The palace is now a museum, and it houses a rich collection of still life paintings.