Prato

About

First known as the textile centre of Italy, Prato has so much more to offer than just locally produced fabrics. Prato is the third largest city in Central Italy after Rome and Florence and is about 40 minutes North-West of the latter. Situated along the Bisenzio river at the foot of Monte Retaia, Prato is a city composed of impressive architecture, culture, and history. Visitors can enjoy the countless palaces and castles in the area, and explore the narrow streets of this lesser-known Italian city. Prato is also home to many museums and other cultural monuments, including the Filippo Lippi frescoes in the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, which have recently been restored. Situated in an area proven to have been inhabited since Paleolithic times, the list of sites worth visiting in Prato is almost equal in length to the areas fascinating history.