I Luoghi della 1000 Miglia

Prato

In the centre of the northern area of Tuscany

Prato lies in a strategic position in the centre of the northern area of Tuscany, near other major cities of art in the region.

The town is especially known for its textile production, which has played a key role in the economic and social development of the area since the Middle Ages. Besides this aspect, the city offers historical and artistic attractions of great importance, through an itinerary that goes from the Middle Ages to Contemporary Art.

In the historical centre, the Emperor’s Castle (evidence of Swabian architecture unique in central-northern Italy) and the Duomo where the venerated relic of the Sacred Girdle of the Virgin Mary is kept. Next, the Palazzo Pretorio Museum, the Basilica di S. Maria delle Carceri by Giuliano da Sangallo; these buildings and the city museums house works by great masters such as Agnolo Gaddi, Paolo Uccello, Filippo and Filippino Lippi, Donatello and Michelozzo and other great artists. The Museo del Tessuto, an expression of the city’s textile history, preserves samples and documents from the 5th century to today. The Centro Pecci is an important point of reference for contemporary Art worldwide.

The provincial territory offers Etruscan necropolis in Carmignano, medieval villages, the splendid Medici Villas of Poggio a Caiano and Artimino UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not to mention the beauty of the Montalbano hills, rich in vineyards and olive groves, or the evocative scenery of the Calvana massif, Monteferrato and Val di Bisenzio.