{"id":846,"date":"2021-03-16T07:13:21","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T07:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/?p=846"},"modified":"2021-03-16T07:13:21","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T07:13:21","slug":"the-hidden-city-of-arts-prato-in-tuscany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/2021\/03\/16\/the-hidden-city-of-arts-prato-in-tuscany\/","title":{"rendered":"The hidden city of arts Prato in Tuscany"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_847\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-847\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-847\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_269344462_bbsferrari-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a9Bigstock.com\/bbsferrari\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_269344462_bbsferrari-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_269344462_bbsferrari-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_269344462_bbsferrari-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_269344462_bbsferrari.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-847\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9Bigstock.com\/bbsferrari<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are many stunning cities of arts in Tuscany, each with their own enthralling history and unique architectural diversity, attracting countless visitors from all over the world year after year. However, many seem to forget the second-largest city of the region, certainly in part due to the close proximity to Florence. Prato is only 17 km away, has around 195,000 inhabitants and is actually an almost magical city of arts in its own right with a wealth of attractive palaces and churches around the pedestrian zone in the city centre. Add the countless stores and boutiques, especially fashion and textiles, and the excellent regional cuisine into the mix and you get a must-visit destination. We tell you what awaits you in the north of Tuscany.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The origins of the industrial centre Prato<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Prato\u2019s history is told quickly. Early settlements date back to the Old Stone Age. The Etruscans traded wool and textiles, but the region quickly lost any significance. Prato\u2019s actual history started in the 10<sup>th<\/sup> century with the first mention of the two villages Borgo al Cornio and Castrum Prati. They were united by the Alberti family who received the title \u201cCounts of Prato\u201d and helped the now drained region with river water supply become a wool and textile emporium. Francesco Datini created his massive trade empire here during the second half of the 14<sup>th<\/sup> century and left behind the biggest archive of merchant administration of the Late Middle Ages \u2013 a collection of over 152,000 documents and other trade related correspondence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Prato was already part of the Republic of Florence at that point having been sold by Joanna I of Naples for 17,500 gold coins. It was given official city status in 1653 with rich embellishments and adornments to reflect this new level and wealth added in the following century. The city became an important industrial centre, especially in the textile sector, after the unification of Italy. Immigration grew exponentially \u2013 first from southern Italy, later from other countries with a substantial Chinese community currently living in Prato.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prato\u2019s churches and cathedrals<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The high number of ecclesiastical buildings in Prato \u2013 a striking characteristic for many cities in Tuscany \u2013 is quite noticeable. We have handpicked seven particularly interesting churches and cathedrals for your visit:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Duomo di Prato:<\/strong> The roots of the city cathedral likely date back to the 5<sup>th<\/sup> century, but today\u2019s fa\u00e7ade made of white Alberese marble and green Serpentino marble was actually built during the Late Middle Ages. Behind the massive portal there\u2019s a three-nave basilica minor with an astonishing cycle of frescoes by Filippo Lippi.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Santa Maria delle Carceri:<\/strong> Prato\u2019s second basilica minor, however, was only built during the Renaissance period. Utilising the strict principles of the Greek cross shape, you get to experience an impressive, highly typical depiction of this era\u2019s style and norms although part of the fa\u00e7ade were never completed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sant\u2019Agostino:<\/strong> Admittedly, the fairly plain fa\u00e7ade with its rose window and belltower isn\u2019t overly alluring. You should definitely peek inside to see numerous highly precious and artistic canvasses and frescoes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>San Domenico:<\/strong> Fine arts take centre stage as well in San Domenico as the church is home to stunning paintings by Matteo Rosselli. Don\u2019t skip the adjacent museum with its wall frescoes!<\/li>\n<li><strong>San Francesco:<\/strong> Most of the baroque decoration in the interior was removed in the early 20<sup>th<\/sup> century to unearth the medieval roots. Niccol\u00f2 Gerini\u2019s frescoes in the chapel alone make this church worth a visit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>San Fabiano:<\/strong> One of Prato\u2019s oldest still existing churches was first documented in 1082. The mosaic floor is even older and was made from the 9<sup>th<\/sup> to the 11<sup>th<\/sup><\/li>\n<li><strong>Santi Vincenzo e Caterina de&#8217; Ricci:<\/strong> The original 16<sup>th<\/sup> century church built for an adjacent monastery was a fairly simple matter. It saw a full overhaul after the beatification of Caterina de&#8217; Ricci. The remains of the saint are exhibited beneath the main altar. The church is vested in amazing sculptures and ceiling paintings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The palaces and museums<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sure, that\u2019s already quite enough for a thrilling city tour, but Prato has so much more to offer. Here are a few additional ingredients for a tasty walk through the city of arts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Palazzo Pretorio:<\/strong> The old city hall, a merger of three separate buildings in the late 13<sup>th<\/sup> and early 14<sup>th<\/sup> century, still reveals the outlines of the former individual parts on the fa\u00e7ade. It has been home to the amazing Museo Civico with a great art collection from the Middle Ages to the 19<sup>th<\/sup> century since 1912.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Palazzo Datini:<\/strong> Remember Francesco Datini\u2019s merchant archive? It was discovered in a wall of this very palace in the 19<sup>th<\/sup> These documents have since found a home in Prato\u2019s State Archive which is in \u2013 you\u2019ve probably already guessed it \u2013 Palazzo Datini. The ground floor with its paintings and mosaics was converted into a museum.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Palazzo degli Alberti:<\/strong> Converted and extended multiple times, you can see traces of various construction periods from the 13<sup>th<\/sup> to the 19<sup>th<\/sup> century on the fa\u00e7ade of this palace. The Palazzo art gallery is mainly dedicated to Tuscan baroque painting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div id=\"attachment_848\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-848\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-848\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_81037670_Marcovarro-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Marcovarro\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_81037670_Marcovarro-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_81037670_Marcovarro-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_81037670_Marcovarro-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/files\/2021\/03\/Prato_81037670_Marcovarro.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-848\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9Bigstock.com\/Marcovarro<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Castello dell\u2019Imperatore:<\/strong> Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, had this castle built on an old fortification in central Prato. The northernmost fortress of his realm was never completed due to the emperor\u2019s death. We recommend walking up the stairs to the fortress walls for a round tour including a gorgeous view of the city.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Museo dell\u2019Opera del Duomo:<\/strong> The old bishop\u2019s residence of Prato now unites six different museum rooms dedicated to the city\u2019s ecclesiastical history. Look forward to various statues, paintings and relics, some of which even date back as far as the 13<sup>th<\/sup> A tour of the vault beneath the cathedral is a must.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Villa Medici:<\/strong> And finally we\u2019re travelling to Poggio a Caiano about nine kilometres south of Prato. The Medici summer residence is widely regarded as the prototype of Renaissance villa architecture strongly inspired by the ancient villas described by Pliny the Elder and Vitruvius. The site with its partially geometric, partially English garden is now used as a large museum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Prato is everything but non-descript and therefore wrongly neglected. The industrial centre in northern Tuscany has a lot of charm and absolutely should be part of your holiday plans. You will certainly soon fall under the spell of this friendly city of arts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are many stunning cities of arts in Tuscany, each with their own enthralling history and unique architectural diversity, attracting countless visitors from all over the world year after year. However, many seem to forget the second-largest city of the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/2021\/03\/16\/the-hidden-city-of-arts-prato-in-tuscany\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[423,430],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/846"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=846"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":849,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/846\/revisions\/849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}