Prato travel guide - Things to do and see in Prato, Tuscany
Itinerary Prato: Sightseeing tours - bike tours - day tours - wine tours

Prato is located in the Italian region Tuscany and it is the second largest city of the region as well as the capital of the province Prato. Prato is not far from some of the most prominent art cities: Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa. The province is composed of the municipalities Cantagallo Carmignano, Montemurlo, Poggio a Caiano, Prato, Vaiano and Vernio. Especially among young people the province is a popular holiday destination.   

 

Things to see in Prato, Tuscany

Castello dell Imperatore, in the center of the city is the emperor’s fort.

 

In the cathedral you can admire the relict of the belt of the Madonna and the frescoes of Filippo Lippis. On the façade you can see the pulpit of Donatello and Michelozzzo.

 

Palazzo Pretorio: this former residence of the „Capitano del popolo” (who received executive powers in the Medieval age) is half Romanesque, half of Gothic style.

 

Check our insider's travel guide to Prato, featuring the best Events of Prato, Night Live of Prato and sightseeing tours to discover the stunning landmarks, markets, churches, museums and monuments of Prato Tuscany

 

Typical cuisine of Prato

Prato’s cuisine is both simple and tasty. A real specialty is the “sedano alla pratese”, blanched and filled celery (with veal, Mortadella, egg and spices) with a tomato sauce.

Typical are also the sausages “Mortadella di Prato” and the “Finocchina” (fennel salami).

 

The typical dessert, the almond cookies “Cantuccini di Prato” are known beyond the borders and are served with the local Vin Santo. The “Zuccherini di Vernio” (typical sugar pastry) and the “Castagnaccio”, a cake made from chestnut flour, raisins, pine nuts and rosemary are also recommended.

 

Typical wine of the region is the Carmignano, Pinot nero, Ruspo and the Vin Santo (dessert wine).

Indulge your passion for Italian food or life style on a cookery holiday combined with language courses in Prato Tuscany and enjoy our hands-on cooking lessons and cookery courses in Tuscany Prato.

 

Are you planing a day trip to Prato or to the tuscany countryside? Please check our travel guide for the best restaurants in Prato, wine tasting courses or selected wine tours discovering the most famous tuscan wineries of the Chianti or the Brunello region guided by a certified Tuscan wine sommelier.

 

Events of Prato, Tuscany

Di Vini Profumi (May, June)

 

Contemporary festival (May-June) 

 

Exhibition Prato-Estate (June-September) in Prato, Poggio a Caiano and Montemurlo

 

Festival of the hills (June-July) in Carmignano 

 

Calici di Stelle (August 10th) in Montalbano 

 

Open cellars (last Sunday of May) 

 

Old places-old aromas (third weekend of November in Lucciana-Cantagallo 

 

Chestnut festivals in the villages of the Bisenzio valley (in the winter)

 

Exhibition of the holy belt (December 25th, May 1st, August 15th, September 8th)

 

Michael festivity in Carmignano (September) 

 

The siege of the villa in Caiano (September) 

 

The fair of Carmignano (December) 

 

Procession of the Holy Christ in Comeana (every 3 years on the Holy Thursday) 

 

Historical Corteggio of Montemurlo (last Sunday in June)

 

Carneval of S. Ippoloto di Vernio (Saturday after Ash Wednesday)  

 

Polenta festival in S. Quirico (first Fasting Sunday)

 

Things to do in Prato, Tuscany

Mondays there is a farmer’s market in Prato.

 

In Prato and its surroundings there are various possibilities to do sports. 

 

 Discover the marvelous countryisde of Prato and Tuscany joining a grape harvest festival or olive harvest festival, taking a bicycile tour in Tuscany visiting one of the nature parks or follow up our tracking itinerary.

If you want deeply to relax and re-charge all your energies a Spa journey would be perfect within your Prato or Tuscan holiday. Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool.

 

Oddities of Prato, Tuscany

A horn doesn’t spark curiosity yet a unicorn does. The Italian unicorn is a deer, that is 4,5 year old (as in the beginning of 2013).The pup lives in a flock of “normal” conspecific in a nature reserve near Prato. The director of the park Gilberto Tozzi is very happy about his mystical deer:  

 

« He is proof that the legendary unicorn most probably wasn’t only a fictional figure. His deer with the unicorn inspired Tozzi to interpret the legend of the unicorn: «It could have been a real animal, a deer or another species born with an anomaly, comparable with this of our deer. »

 

History of Prato, Tuscany

According to records, Prato was already settled by Etruscans. The first documented reference of Prato is from the 10th century. Over the years Prato became an important center for wool- and textile production.

 

Up to today medieval walls surround the historical center which has been a pedestrian zone for quite a while now. Already in the Medieval Ages Prato was regarded as a wealthy city, which can still be detected today looking at the palaces, churches and the fort which is unique for Northern and Central Italy.

 

Holiday in Prato or Tuscany countryside

The Coast line of Tuscany offers many splendid white beaches. A guide to Tuscany's best beaches with reviews and what to do when you're there, chosen by our local experts.

 

Our portfolio of hand picked rental villas with pool, holiday houses, romantic country houses and cottages, apartments or rooms for rent with a view in Tuscany offers you authentic, charming and private accommodation for a unique holiday experience.

 

No matter if you favor family holidays, beach holidays, golf holidays, luxury holidays or a pet friendly accommodation, we have the best private rentals in Tuscany available for you!

 

Economy

Still nowadays Prato is influenced heavily by the textile industry. Many companies in the textile production have settled in the province throughout the last decades. Also in the city center the high density of fashion stores stand out. 

 

Climate

The climate is marked by cold and dry winters and on the contrary hot and humid summers. Heavy condensation is concentrated during fall and sometimes spring.  

 

Arrival

By car

Coming from the north or south of Italy you have to take the A1, change to the A11 and take the exit “Prato Est”, near the “Centro per l`Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci”, or take the exit “Prato Ovest” at the other end of the city.

You also have to take the A11, known as Firenze Mare, when you come from the coast of Tuscany or Liguria. 

 

By airplane

The nearest airports are Amerigo Vespucci airport in Florence, Galileo Galilei in Pisa, or even Guglielmo Marconi in Bologna. All these airports are destinations of international, national as well as low-cost-flights.

 

By train

The railway Lucca – Florence also passes Prato (with the stops Prato Centrale, Prato Porta al Serraglio and Prato Borgonuovo), as well as the railway Milano-Roma (with high speed trains that stop in Florence Santa Maria Novella). 

At the airports and train stations are taxi stops and/or car rentals. 

 

Public transportation in the city of Prato, Tuscany

Prato, the city on the banks of the river Bisenzio, is best to be discovered walking or by bicycle in order to get to know all the precious sights. 

 

Taxi

Via Francesco Ferrucci, 57

Prato

+39 0574 631181

 

Piazza Della Stazione, Prato, Po 59100

+39 0574 37047

 

Via Filippo Brunelleschi, 3

Prato

+39 0574 5656

 

Bus

CAP 

Piazza Stazione, 59100 Prato (PO)

Mondays - Fridays 10:00am -12:30am, Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30pm -4:30pm

Tel: 0574 608 235

Fax: 0574 210 38

 

Bike rentals

BALDI SPORT S.N.C.

Via Nuova 19, 39026, PRATO ALLO STELVIO (BZ) 

Tel: 0473 617071

 

BIKEMAN S.N.C. DI TELSER A. & E.

Via Dottore Heinrich Vogele 7, 39028, SILANDRO (BZ) 

Tel: 0473 732387

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Prato

Prato travel guide - Things to do and see in Prato, Tuscany
Itinerary Prato: Sightseeing tours - bike tours - day tours - wine tours

Prato is located in the Italian region Tuscany and it is the second largest city of the region as well as the capital of the province Prato. Prato is not far from some of the most prominent art cities: Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa. The province is composed of the municipalities Cantagallo Carmignano, Montemurlo, Poggio a Caiano, Prato, Vaiano and Vernio. Especially among young people the province is a popular holiday destination.   

 

Things to see in Prato, Tuscany

Castello dell Imperatore, in the center of the city is the emperor’s fort.

 

In the cathedral you can admire the relict of the belt of the Madonna and the frescoes of Filippo Lippis. On the façade you can see the pulpit of Donatello and Michelozzzo.

 

Palazzo Pretorio: this former residence of the „Capitano del popolo” (who received executive powers in the Medieval age) is half Romanesque, half of Gothic style.

 

Check our insider's travel guide to Prato, featuring the best Events of Prato, Night Live of Prato and sightseeing tours to discover the stunning landmarks, markets, churches, museums and monuments of Prato Tuscany

 

Typical cuisine of Prato

Prato’s cuisine is both simple and tasty. A real specialty is the “sedano alla pratese”, blanched and filled celery (with veal, Mortadella, egg and spices) with a tomato sauce.

Typical are also the sausages “Mortadella di Prato” and the “Finocchina” (fennel salami).

 

The typical dessert, the almond cookies “Cantuccini di Prato” are known beyond the borders and are served with the local Vin Santo. The “Zuccherini di Vernio” (typical sugar pastry) and the “Castagnaccio”, a cake made from chestnut flour, raisins, pine nuts and rosemary are also recommended.

 

Typical wine of the region is the Carmignano, Pinot nero, Ruspo and the Vin Santo (dessert wine).

Indulge your passion for Italian food or life style on a cookery holiday combined with language courses in Prato Tuscany and enjoy our hands-on cooking lessons and cookery courses in Tuscany Prato.

 

Are you planing a day trip to Prato or to the tuscany countryside? Please check our travel guide for the best restaurants in Prato, wine tasting courses or selected wine tours discovering the most famous tuscan wineries of the Chianti or the Brunello region guided by a certified Tuscan wine sommelier.

 

Events of Prato, Tuscany

Di Vini Profumi (May, June)

 

Contemporary festival (May-June) 

 

Exhibition Prato-Estate (June-September) in Prato, Poggio a Caiano and Montemurlo

 

Festival of the hills (June-July) in Carmignano 

 

Calici di Stelle (August 10th) in Montalbano 

 

Open cellars (last Sunday of May) 

 

Old places-old aromas (third weekend of November in Lucciana-Cantagallo 

 

Chestnut festivals in the villages of the Bisenzio valley (in the winter)

 

Exhibition of the holy belt (December 25th, May 1st, August 15th, September 8th)

 

Michael festivity in Carmignano (September) 

 

The siege of the villa in Caiano (September) 

 

The fair of Carmignano (December) 

 

Procession of the Holy Christ in Comeana (every 3 years on the Holy Thursday) 

 

Historical Corteggio of Montemurlo (last Sunday in June)

 

Carneval of S. Ippoloto di Vernio (Saturday after Ash Wednesday)  

 

Polenta festival in S. Quirico (first Fasting Sunday)

 

Things to do in Prato, Tuscany

Mondays there is a farmer’s market in Prato.

 

In Prato and its surroundings there are various possibilities to do sports. 

 

 Discover the marvelous countryisde of Prato and Tuscany joining a grape harvest festival or olive harvest festival, taking a bicycile tour in Tuscany visiting one of the nature parks or follow up our tracking itinerary.

If you want deeply to relax and re-charge all your energies a Spa journey would be perfect within your Prato or Tuscan holiday. Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool.

 

Oddities of Prato, Tuscany

A horn doesn’t spark curiosity yet a unicorn does. The Italian unicorn is a deer, that is 4,5 year old (as in the beginning of 2013).The pup lives in a flock of “normal” conspecific in a nature reserve near Prato. The director of the park Gilberto Tozzi is very happy about his mystical deer:  

 

« He is proof that the legendary unicorn most probably wasn’t only a fictional figure. His deer with the unicorn inspired Tozzi to interpret the legend of the unicorn: «It could have been a real animal, a deer or another species born with an anomaly, comparable with this of our deer. »

 

History of Prato, Tuscany

According to records, Prato was already settled by Etruscans. The first documented reference of Prato is from the 10th century. Over the years Prato became an important center for wool- and textile production.

 

Up to today medieval walls surround the historical center which has been a pedestrian zone for quite a while now. Already in the Medieval Ages Prato was regarded as a wealthy city, which can still be detected today looking at the palaces, churches and the fort which is unique for Northern and Central Italy.

 

Holiday in Prato or Tuscany countryside

The Coast line of Tuscany offers many splendid white beaches. A guide to Tuscany's best beaches with reviews and what to do when you're there, chosen by our local experts.

 

Our portfolio of hand picked rental villas with pool, holiday houses, romantic country houses and cottages, apartments or rooms for rent with a view in Tuscany offers you authentic, charming and private accommodation for a unique holiday experience.

 

No matter if you favor family holidays, beach holidays, golf holidays, luxury holidays or a pet friendly accommodation, we have the best private rentals in Tuscany available for you!

 

Economy

Still nowadays Prato is influenced heavily by the textile industry. Many companies in the textile production have settled in the province throughout the last decades. Also in the city center the high density of fashion stores stand out. 

 

Climate

The climate is marked by cold and dry winters and on the contrary hot and humid summers. Heavy condensation is concentrated during fall and sometimes spring.  

 

Arrival

By car

Coming from the north or south of Italy you have to take the A1, change to the A11 and take the exit “Prato Est”, near the “Centro per l`Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci”, or take the exit “Prato Ovest” at the other end of the city.

You also have to take the A11, known as Firenze Mare, when you come from the coast of Tuscany or Liguria. 

 

By airplane

The nearest airports are Amerigo Vespucci airport in Florence, Galileo Galilei in Pisa, or even Guglielmo Marconi in Bologna. All these airports are destinations of international, national as well as low-cost-flights.

 

By train

The railway Lucca – Florence also passes Prato (with the stops Prato Centrale, Prato Porta al Serraglio and Prato Borgonuovo), as well as the railway Milano-Roma (with high speed trains that stop in Florence Santa Maria Novella). 

At the airports and train stations are taxi stops and/or car rentals. 

 

Public transportation in the city of Prato, Tuscany

Prato, the city on the banks of the river Bisenzio, is best to be discovered walking or by bicycle in order to get to know all the precious sights. 

 

Taxi

Via Francesco Ferrucci, 57

Prato

+39 0574 631181

 

Piazza Della Stazione, Prato, Po 59100

+39 0574 37047

 

Via Filippo Brunelleschi, 3

Prato

+39 0574 5656

 

Bus

CAP 

Piazza Stazione, 59100 Prato (PO)

Mondays - Fridays 10:00am -12:30am, Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30pm -4:30pm

Tel: 0574 608 235

Fax: 0574 210 38

 

Bike rentals

BALDI SPORT S.N.C.

Via Nuova 19, 39026, PRATO ALLO STELVIO (BZ) 

Tel: 0473 617071

 

BIKEMAN S.N.C. DI TELSER A. & E.

Via Dottore Heinrich Vogele 7, 39028, SILANDRO (BZ) 

Tel: 0473 732387

GoTuscany - Holiday apartments & luxury beach front villas, Tuscany
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