Prato is the capital of the province of Prato, which is located in Tuscany, which is situated along the western coastline of Italy. The city is located at the foot of Monte Retaia, which stands at 768 meters above sea level and is the last peak in the Calvana Chain. The city’s landscape ranges in height from 32 meters near Cascine di Tavola to 818 meters at Monte Cantagrillo.
The city is home to many museums and monuments, such as the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, which is one of the oldest churches in the city and has been documented as far back as the 10th century. It was built in Romanesque style and is home to a number of works of art and sculptures.
There is the Castello dell'Imperatore, or Emperor’s Castle is located near the church of Santa Maria delle Carceri and it is the northern most castle that was built by Frederick the II, King of Sicily. It dates back to 1240 when the work on its construction was started, however work stopped when Frederick died in 1250. During the next century the castle was connected to the city walls via means of a corridor, called the Corridore del Cassero.
The Centro per l'arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci, or Centre for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci, is devoted to contemporary arts forms from the last decade. The centre houses a museum of contemporary art and the centre of information and documentation. The centre is shaped like a U and in the central outside space is an amphitheatre, which can seat up to 800 people.
Sant' Agostino was built in 1440 at the site of an older building that dated back to 1271; the exterior is simple with a lovely rose window and a bell tower, which has a pyramid shaped top. Inside there are a number of paintings from artists such as Giovanni Battista Naldini, Lorenzo Lippi, l'Empoli and Giovanni Bizzelli.
There are also guided tour companies, such as Tuscanyhere who offer a range of trips and have experience staff to accompany you, so you get to see the best sights and understand a little about their history and importance to the city and the region.
The city is also known for its slow food, as opposed to fast food and some of the local specialities include a type of biscotti known as cantucci. This local treat is made by specialist bakers and can easily be found in the city.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Prato? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Prato and villas in Prato that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
