Prato, what to see in just two days, from the new Luigi Pecci center for contemporary art to what to eat and above all where, all in the post below, read here.
Dishes is the city you don't expect: known as la capital of Italian textiles, it is not only a city dedicated to industry but it is first of all a city that knows how to renew itself continuously, always trying to look forward in an innovative way. Perhaps this is why Prato's new goal is to become the city of contemporary art and this new great path was inaugurated precisely by the reopening of Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art, the largest center in all of Tuscany.
Along with this, a series of events and inaugurations followed, such as the exhibition of the street artist Toxic and the new Lottozero textile design center. For this reason, to start knowing Prato well takes at least 2 days: in order to live the city, its neighborhoods, exhibition spaces and clubs, some of them very special. So here are some tips on what to do in Prato in 2 days!
Stroll through the historic center
Let's start with the simplest and perhaps most trivial thing, but to get to know a city well, you can only start from its historic center! If you arrive by car, one of the most convenient places to park is there Porta al Serraglio area, where among other things there is also the train station. You can start from the stupendous St. Stephen's Basilica, the cathedral of the city and the homonymous square.
From there you go along via Mazzoni, one of the main streets of the center full of shops and typical restaurants, to arrive in via Bettino Ricasoli where the oldest biscuit factory in the city of Antonio Mattei. It goes without saying that here, a stop to taste the typical cantucci is a must! Immediately after there is Piazza San Francesco, another hub of the city. Finally, not to be missed is the Castle of the Emperor in Piazza delle Carceri, an imposing fortress that both day and night makes the square very suggestive.
Get lost in the typical flavors of Prato
You can eat well in Prato. Maybe it's a bit obvious as a sentence, but it's the truth. On the other hand we are in Tuscany and here the food and wine tradition reigns supreme. In Prato in particular, there are many typical Tuscan and ethnic places that offer cuisines from all over the world.
The first must if you love sweets is obviously the Mattei biscuit factory (via Bettino Ricasoli), which produces and sells typical products Prato biscuits (cantuccini) with almonds or dark chocolate, health biscuits and many, many cakes. Always staying on the sweet side, not to be missed is also the Empire pastry shop, a little out of the center but close to the Lottozero exhibition space: it has an infinite dessert counter and truly impressive hospitality!
Instead for a aperitif in the heart of Prato or a typical dinner there is the local The Barrique, a wine bar with an excellent choice of wines and craft beers serving typical Tuscan platters and other traditional dishes, such as pappa al pomodoro and ribollita.
Just one tip: if you happen to be on the weekend it is best to book! Finally, if you want to try the Ethiopian cuisine in Prato, there is Kaldi's Kaffe, in addition to being a coffee paradise (strictly made according to the Ethiopian tradition), it is also a good place to try the typical dishes of Ethiopia.
Follow the artistic-cultural path
Prato is presenting itself as the city of contemporary art, merging its history as an industrial textile district with a new idea of making art. As already mentioned, at the head of all this is the Pecci Center, a true local and regional institution for contemporary art. Along with the center, however, there are other places of art not to be missed, such as the Lottozero textile design space, the Textile museum and private galleries that often host temporary exhibitions such as Farsetti Arte.
Finally, if there is some time left, don't forget that Prato is only 15-20 minutes from Florence and 1 hour by car from Torre del Lago, being in a much more than strategic position between the wonderful Tuscan hinterland and the beaches of Versilia.
