Prato

43.8777, 11.10223

Prato Travel Guide

Travel Author

Stig Albeck

City Map

City Introduction

Prato is the second largest city in the Italian region of Tuscany, and is beautifully situated at the foot of the Apennines in the area northwest of Florence. The city has a rich history that dates back to ancient times, with archaeological finds showing that the area was inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. In the Middle Ages, Prato became a free city-commune and developed into a significant trading town, particularly known for its textile industry. The city was conquered by Florence in 1350 and remained under Florentine control until the unification of Italy in 1860.

Prato had previously been ravaged by Spanish troops in the 16th century during the Medici Wars, a period of power struggles and infighting within the Medici family in their efforts to maintain control of Florence and Tuscany. It was a turbulent period in the city’s history, but despite this, the city continued to flourish. The textile industry was the driving force behind Prato’s economy for centuries.

Prato is known today for its architecture, which reflects the city’s rich history. One of the most notable buildings is the Prato Cathedral/Duomo di Prato, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Stephen/Cattedrale di Santo Stefano. It dates back to the 10th century in its original form. However, the current Duomo was built from around 1100 and 400 years later. The cathedral is famous for its beautiful facade and the external pulpit, which was created by Donatello and Michelozzo. Inside, you can see frescoes by Filippo Lippi, which are among the most important works of art in the church.

Castello dell’Imperatore or the Imperial Castle is another of Prato’s important attractions. It stands in the center of the city as an impressive fortress, built between 1237 and 1247. The fortress was built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and is one of the few examples of Swabian architecture in Tuscany. The massive building with its well-preserved walls makes it a popular tourist destination and a symbol of the city’s medieval power. However, only the exterior of the castle was completed, and therefore the planned inner complex cannot be seen.

Prato is also home to several museums, such as the Museo del Tessuto, which is dedicated to the city’s textile industry. A visit will give you a fascinating insight into Prato’s history as a center for textile production and displays an extensive collection of textiles and machinery. You can also visit the old palace Palazzo Pretorio, which is now a museum exhibiting works of art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. More recent art can be seen at the Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, a museum of contemporary art housed in an exciting building designed by Italo Gamberini.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Florence
Firenze

Florence and surrounding Tuscany are at the top of many travelers bucket lists of places to see in Italy and the World, and for good reason. The landscape is picturesque and with the many cultural cities, loads of great sights and activities await. Florence is the top of Tuscany sights with all its splendor and countless beautiful churches, palaces and more.

The city, with all its marble, offers plenty of things to do. Among the most famous places to visit are the magnificent cathedral of the city and its baptismal chapel. Palazzo Pitti with the impressive Boboli Gardens, the unique bridge of Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery’s distinguished collections and the area around the Republic Square are good choices as well.

Read more about Florence

 

Bologna

Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region and it is one of Italy’s major cultural cities with its own special vibe under the arcades for which the city is so famous, they are all over the city center. Street after street you can walk in archways; for example to the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca church, where there are 666 arches on the way.

Bologna has nurtured great artists through time, and is home to Europe’s oldest university. The campus houses a special atmosphere in the city and is host of interesting museums – all within walking distance of the cozy inner city.

Read more about Bologna

 

Pisa

Pisa is one of the old Italian city-states, which today offers fantastic sights and a lovely atmosphere. The city is one of the great cultural cities in Tuscany and lies beautifully along the banks of the river Arno close to the estuary in the Ligurian Sea. The most famous work is The Leaning Tower.

A trip to Pisa is, however, much more than an encounter with the Leaning Tower. It’s also strolling in a beautiful city center with a wealth of highlights. The city’s magnificent buildings were created on an economic boom that came with the city’s naval dominance in the western Mediterranean throughout the 1000s and 1300s, and this is enjoyed today.

Read more about Pisa

 

Siena

Siena is a city with countless sights and cultural treasures, and at the same time the city is considered the wine capital of Tuscany. That way, you are never far from the nearest winery or for some tasty breaks in the city. Among the well-known wines from here is Chianti, which can be enjoyed hand in hand with the city’s atmosphere in the many old cozy streets.

Piazza del Campo is a beautiful square that forms the old center of Siena. The square is dominated by the city’s famous town hall, Palazzo Pubblico, which was built in an almost castle-like architecture in the years 1297-1310. It contains several distinguished halls from the Middle Ages, and there is a museum, the Museo Civico, where you can see paintings by great artists from Siena.

Read more about Siena

Geolocation

In short

Overview of Prato

Prato is the second largest city in the Italian region of Tuscany, and is beautifully situated at the foot of the Apennines in the area northwest of Florence. The city has a rich history that dates back to ancient times, with archaeological finds showing that the area was inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. In the Middle Ages, Prato became a free city-commune and developed into a significant trading town, particularly known for its textile industry. The city was conquered by Florence in 1350 and remained under Florentine control until the unification of Italy in 1860.

About the Whitehorse travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

About the travel guide

The Whitehorse travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Canadian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Whitehorse is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

Read more about Whitehorse and Canada

Canada Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/canada
City tourism: https://visitwhite-horse.ca
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Whitehorse you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Travel Expert

Stig Albeck

Gallery

Gallery

Other Interesting Guides

Similar to Prato Travel Guide