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Province of Prato

Prato Province
Villa Medicea di Poggio - Photo: Niccolo Rigacci

The province of Prato covers and area of just 365 sq.km. making it the smallest of the ten Tuscan provinces. It is bordered to the north by the region of Emilia-Romagna, to the east and south by the province of Florence and to the west by the province of Pistoia.

Prato Province
Province of Prato, Tuscany

Prato

Capital of the province of Prato in the region of Tuscany, this city lies at the foot of Monte Retaia with the Bisenzio river running through it. It is the second largest city in Tuscany and the third largest in central Italy. It has a history of textile industry and is currently the centre of the Slow Food Movement.

There is large community of Chinese immigrants in Prato and it has the second largest Chinatown, after Milan, in Italy.

The main sights to see in the city are:

The Cathedral of Santo Stefano

The Emperor's Castle

One of the castles built by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen.

Santa Maria delle Carceri

A church built in 1484 on a Greek cross plan.

The Church of Sant'Agostino

Built in 1440 and has a bell tower with a top in the shape of a pyramid.

The Church of San Fabiano

From the 11th century with the remains a pavement mosaic from the 9th century.

Palazzo Pretorio

Constructed in the 13th century from red bricks. The external staircase and clock were added in the 16th century.

Palazzo degli Alberti

From the 13th century now houses a museum with works by Caravaggio, Giovanni Bellini and Filippo Lippi.

Teatro Metastasio

Built in 1829 and is the main venue for operas and other theatrical productions.

Poggio a Caiano

Only nine kilometres south of Prato this small town has some interesting places to visit. The main attraction is the Medici Villa which was an old fortification bought by Lorenzo de'Medici in 1473. He first improved the land around the building and then started work on the villa which became called the Medici Villa del Poggia, meaning Medici Villa on the Hill.

The villa was donated to the Italian state in 1919 and was neglected for many years until it became a national museum in 1984. It then underwent massive renovation work and is now open to the public.

There are several other interesting villas to visit in and around the town:

  • Villa Cirri in Poggio a Caiano
  • Villa Pacetti in Poggio a Caiano
  • Villa Il Cerretino in Il Cerretino
  • Villa Il Poggiale in Il Poggiale
  • Villa Il Castellaccio in Madonna del Violo
  • Villa Magra in Madonna del Violo
  • Villa Mastringalla in Poggetto

Other points of interest are:

  • The Town Hall
  • Bacco's Fountain
  • The Church of Santa Maria del Rosario
  • Church at the Institute of Minim Sisters
  • Cavarzano

A small village 600 metres above sea level with a population of only 200 people. It is a popular destination for tourists and during the summer months the population increases to well over a thousand.

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More Details

Flag of Tuscany
Flag of Tuscany
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 22,990 km²
      Population: 3.6 million
      Density: 157/km²
      Capital: Florence

      National Parks:
      Tuscan Archipelago
      Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, and Campigna
Location of Tuscany
Location of Tuscany
Provinces of Tuscany
Provinces of Tuscany
  • Comunes of Tuscany
    • Arezzo
      • Anghiari
        Arezzo
        Badia Tedalda
        Bibbiena
        Bucine
        Capolona
        Caprese Michelangelo
        Castel Focognano
        Castel San Niccolò
        Castelfranco di Sopra
        Castiglion Fibocchi
        Castiglion Fiorentino
        Cavriglia
        Chitignano
        Chiusi della Verna
        Civitella in Val di Chiana
        Cortona
        Foiano della Chiana
        Laterina
        Loro Ciuffenna
        Lucignano
        Marciano della Chiana
        Monte San Savino
        Montemignaio
        Monterchi
        Montevarchi
        Ortignano Raggiolo
        Pergine Valdarno
        Pian di Sco
        Pieve Santo Stefano
        Poppi
        Pratovecchio
        San Giovanni Valdarno
        Sansepolcro
        Sestino
        Stia
        Subbiano
        Talla
        Terranuova Bracciolini

    • Firenze
      • Bagno a Ripoli
        Barberino di Mugello
        Barberino Val d’Elsa
        Borgo San Lorenzo
        Calenzano
        Campi Bisenzio
        Capraia e Limite
        Castelfiorentino
        Cerreto Guidi
        Certaldo
        Dicomano
        Empoli
        Fiesole
        Figline Valdarno
        Firenze
        Firenzuola
        Fucecchio
        Gambassi Terme
        Greve in Chianti
        Impruneta
        Incisa in Val d’Arno
        Lastra a Signa
        Londa
        Marradi
        Montaione
        Montelupo Fiorentino
        Montespertoli
        Palazzuolo sul Senio
        Pelago
        Pontassieve
        Reggello
        Rignano sull’Arno
        Rufina
        San Casciano in Val di Pesa
        San Godenzo
        San Piero a Sieve
        Scandicci
        Scarperia
        Sesto Fiorentino
        Signa
        Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
        Vaglia
        Vicchio
        Vinci

    • Grosseto
      • Arcidosso
        Campagnatico
        Capalbio
        Castel del Piano
        Castell’Azzara
        Castiglione della Pescaia
        Cinigiano
        Civitella Paganico
        Follonica
        Gavorrano
        Grosseto
        Isola del Giglio
        Magliano in Toscana
        Manciano
        Massa Marittima
        Monte Argentario
        Monterotondo Marittimo
        Montieri
        Orbetello
        Pitigliano
        Roccalbegna
        Roccastrada
        Santa Fiora
        Scansano
        Scarlino
        Seggiano
        Semproniano
        Sorano

    • Livorno
      • Bibbona
        Campiglia Marittima
        Campo nell’Elba
        Capoliveri
        Capraia Isola
        Castagneto Carducci
        Cecina
        Collesalvetti
        Livorno
        Marciana
        Marciana Marina
        Piombino
        Porto Azzurro
        Portoferraio
        Rio Marina
        Rio nell’Elba
        Rosignano Marittimo
        San Vincenzo
        Sassetta
        Suvereto

    • Lucca
      • Altopascio
        Bagni di Lucca
        Barga
        Borgo a Mozzano
        Camaiore
        Camporgiano
        Capannori
        Careggine
        Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
        Castiglione di Garfagnana
        Coreglia Antelminelli
        Fabbriche di Vallico
        Forte dei Marmi
        Fosciandora
        Gallicano
        Giuncugnano
        Lucca
        Massarosa
        Minucciano
        Molazzana
        Montecarlo
        Pescaglia
        Piazza al Serchio
        Pietrasanta
        Pieve Fosciana
        Porcari
        San Romano in Garfagnana
        Seravezza
        Sillano
        Stazzema
        Vagli Sotto
        Vergemoli
        Viareggio
        Villa Basilica
        Villa Collemandina

    • Massa-Carrara
      • Aulla
        Bagnone
        Carrara
        Casola in Lunigiana
        Comano
        Filattiera
        Fivizzano
        Fosdinovo
        Licciana Nardi
        Massa
        Montignoso
        Mulazzo
        Podenzana
        Pontremoli
        Tresana
        Villafranca in Lunigiana
        Zeri

    • Pisa
      • Bientina
        Buti
        Calci
        Calcinaia
        Capannoli
        Casale Marittimo
        Casciana Terme
        Cascina
        Castelfranco di Sotto
        Castellina Marittima
        Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina
        Chianni
        Crespina
        Fauglia
        Guardistallo
        Lajatico
        Lari
        Lorenzana
        Montecatini Val di Cecina
        Montescudaio
        Monteverdi Marittimo
        Montopoli in Val d’Arno
        Orciano Pisano
        Palaia
        Peccioli
        Pisa
        Pomarance
        Ponsacco
        Pontedera
        Riparbella
        San Giuliano Terme
        San Miniato
        Santa Croce sull’Arno
        Santa Luce
        Santa Maria a Monte
        Terricciola
        Vecchiano
        Vicopisano
        Volterra

    • Pistoia
      • Abetone
        Agliana
        Buggiano
        Chiesina Uzzanese
        Cutigliano
        Lamporecchio
        Larciano
        Marliana
        Massa e Cozzile
        Monsummano Terme
        Montale
        Montecatini-Terme
        Pescia
        Pieve a Nievole
        Pistoia
        Piteglio
        Ponte Buggianese
        Quarrata
        Sambuca Pistoiese
        San Marcello Pistoiese
        Serravalle Pistoiese
        Uzzano

    • Prato
      • Cantagallo
        Carmignano
        Montemurlo
        Poggio a Caiano
        Prato
        Vaiano
        Vernio

    • Siena
      • Abbadia San Salvatore
        Asciano
        Buonconvento
        Casole d’Elsa
        Castellina in Chianti
        Castelnuovo Berardenga
        Castiglione d’Orcia
        Cetona
        Chianciano Terme
        Chiusdino
        Chiusi
        Colle di Val d’Elsa
        Gaiole in Chianti
        Montalcino
        Montepulciano
        Monteriggioni
        Monteroni d’Arbia
        Monticiano
        Murlo
        Piancastagnaio
        Pienza
        Poggibonsi
        Radda in Chianti
        Radicofani
        Radicondoli
        Rapolano Terme
        San Casciano dei Bagni
        San Gimignano
        San Giovanni d’Asso
        San Quirico d’Orcia
        Sarteano
        Siena
        Sinalunga
        Sovicille
        Torrita di Siena
        Trequanda

Hotels in Tuscany
Hotels in Tuscany
TuscanyWEATHER
Tuscany Climate (Florence)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 15 8 4 63
Feb 15 8 4 52
Mar 17 9 5 43
Apr 19 11 6 31
May 24 15 7 17
Jun 28 18 9 9
Jul 31 22 10 6
Aug 31 22 9 9
Sep 28 19 7 29
Oct 24 16 6 53
Nov 20 12 4 63
Dec 17 10 4 59
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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