Related Articles
Where is Prato in Italy?
Municipality of Tuscany (97.3 km2 with 194,223 ab. in 2020), provincial capital. It extends to 61 m above sea level at the outlet in the plain of the Bisenzio valley, at the foot of the Calvana limestone group. Until the beginning of the 20th century. the topographical development of the city was contained within the perimeter of the walls built in the early fifteenth century. After the First World War, the great demographic and urban expansion of the city began. The economy is mainly industrial: P. it is one of the most important Italian textile centers, specialized in the processing of wool. The origins of this activity are very ancient: already flourishing in the second half of the thirteenth century, it was favored in the following century by the creation of commercial, financial and manufacturing companies, which extended their business relations to numerous countries of Europe. The wool sector is connected to the packaging, metalworking (textile machinery), chemical, cement, paper, footwear and food industries. Finally, a major component of the Prato economy is all tertiary activities, especially as regards credit, transport and trade. Developed is also tourism.
P. became a city center in the 10th century., when the village built in the previous century in the locality of P. met with the Lombard Borgo al Cornio and the castle of the counts Alberti, and these followed the fate. Common in the 12th century., allied with the Florentines against Pisa; became rich for the textile industry and especially wool (13 sec), in the 14th century. it was the natural objective of Florence, after the submission of the municipality of Pistoia (1306); and if the Florentines did not succeed at first to conquer it for the opposition of the Angevins (1326), they achieved the goal when the protection of those, for the betrayal of Queen Giovanna, failed (1351). Fr. followed the fate of Florence, starting a slow phase of decline. At the end of the 15th century. the University of Pisa was moved there several times for short periods, when for political reasons, when due to plagues. We must remember the failed insurrection of Florentine B. Nardi (1470) and the sacking (the ‘sack of P.’) to which the Spaniards subjected the viceroy of Naples, Raymond of Cardona, for having supported the Florentine Republic. In 1653 it had the title of city and was elevated to a bishopric, united, in the person of the bishop, in Pistoia as a suffragan of Florence; since 1954 it has its own bishop.
Within the circle of the walls (1330; with additions of the 16th century.), the ancient urban core retains much of its original appearance. The main monument is the cathedral, S. Stefano, Romanesque-Gothic construction, with facade of 14 sec and Romanesque bell tower, with crowning of the 14th century. Outside it, pulpit of the Sacro Cingolo (Donatello and Michelozzo, 1428-38); inside, in the chapel of the Sacro Cingolo, frescoes by A. Gaddi and Madonna by Giovanni Pisano; in the choir, frescoes by F. Lippi, 1456-66; in the chapel of the Assumption, frescoes perhaps by Paolo Uccello; pergamon by Mino da Fiesole and A. Rossellino. The castle of the Emperor (1237-45 ca., includes the remains of the castle of the Counts of P.): a square plan, with eight towers, is an important testimony of Swabian architecture. The Praetorian Palace (13 sec -14 sec), then home to the Municipal Gallery, and the Palazzo Datini (14 sec -15 sec) document the medieval civil building. Among the other notable buildings: S. Maria delle Carceri (Giuliano da Sangallo, 1485-92, terracotta by Andrea della Robbia); S. Domenico (13 sec -14 sec); St. Francis (started in 1295; in the adjacent chapter house, frescoes by Niccolo by Pietro Gerini); S. Niccolo, 1322. For the 19th century. it is worth mentioning the Teatro Metastasio (L. de Chambra Dign-digny
What is Prato Italy known for?
Is Prato worth visiting?
How do you get to Prato Italy?
