| Comune di Prato | |
|---|---|
 Municipal coat of arms | |
  | |
| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Province | Prato (PO) |
| Mayor | Marco Romagnoli (since June 13, 2004) |
| Elevation | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Area | 97 km² (37 sq mi) |
| Population (as of January 2, 2006) | |
| - Total | 183,864 |
| - Density | 1,896/km² (4,911/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Pratesi |
| Dialing code | 0574 |
| Postal code | 59100 |
| Frazioni | See list |
| Patron | St. Stephen |
| - Day | December 26 |
| Website: www.comune.prato.it | |
Prato is a city in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. Tuscany (Toscana is a region in Italy. It has an area of 22990 km² and a population of about 3 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Province of Prato (Italian Provincia di Prato) is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Historically, Prato's economy has been based on the textile industry. The renowned Datini archives are a significant collection of early medieval documents produced between 1363 and 1410. The Textile Museum also reflects this history.
Prato is also a centre of the slow food movement, with many local specialities, including cantucci, a type of biscotti, sold by local speciality bakers. The Slow Food movement was founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy to combat Fast food. Biscotti is Italian for " Biscuits " In North America the word has been taken to refer to a specific type of biscuits
Since the late 1950s, the city has experienced significant immigration, firstly from southern Italy, then from other nationalities, the most notable being a large Chinese community which first arrived in the late 1980s. Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. With more than 180,000 inhabitants, Prato is Tuscany's second largest city and the third largest in Central Italy, after Rome and Florence. Central Italy is a geographic area in Italy that encompasses four of the country's 20 autonomous regions: Lazio Marches Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2
Contents |
History
Ancient age
Archaeological findings have proved that Prato's surrounding hills were inhabited since Paleolithic times. The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" The plain was later colonized by the Etruscans. In 1998 remains of a previously unknown city from that civilization was discovered in the neighbourhood, near Campi Bisenzio: it was of medium size and it was already a centre for wool and textile industry. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Campi Bisenzio is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 10 km northwest Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species The Textile industry (also known in the United Kingdom and Australia as the Rag Trade) is a term used for industries primarily concerned with the design According to some scholars, it could be the mythical Camars. Clusium was an ancient city in Italy, one of several found at the site The Etruscan city was inhabited until the 5th century BC, when, for undisclosed reasons, it decayed; control of the area was later shifted to the Romans, who had their Via Cassia pass from here, but did not build any settlement. The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Via Cassia was an important Roman road striking out of the Via Flaminia near the Milvian Bridge in the immediate vicinity of Rome and passing
Middle Ages
In the early Middle Ages the Byzantine and Lombard dominations followed. The history of Prato itself begins from the 10th century, when two distinct villages, Borgo al Cornio and Castrum Prati (Prato's Castle), are known. In the following century the two settlements were united under the lords of the castle, the Alberti family, who received the imperial title of Counts of Prato. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in In the same period the plain was dried and a hydraulic system regulating and exploiting the waters of the Bisenzio River was created to feed the gualchierae (pre-industrial textile machines).
After a siege in 1107 by the troops of Matilde of Canossa, the Alberti retreated to their family fortresses in the Bisenzio Valley: Prato could therefore develop as a free commune. Matilda of Canossa ( Italian: Matilde, Latin: Mathilde; 1046 &ndash 24 July 1115) called la Gran Contessa Communes in Europe in the Middle Ages were sworn allegiances of mutual defense (both physical defense and of traditional freedoms among community members of a town or city Within two centuries it reached the number of 15,000 inhabitants, spurred in by the flourishing textile industry and by the presence of the Holy Belt relic. Two new lines of walls had to be built in the mid-12th century and, respectively, from the early 14th century. In 1326, in order to counter the expansionism of Florence, Prato submitted voluntarily under the seigniory of Robert of Anjou, King of Naples. Roman origins Florence was founded in 59 BCE as a settlement for former soldiers and was named Florentia, allotted by Julius Caesar to his veterans in Robert of Anjou, known as Robert the Wise (Roberto il Saggio 1277 – 20 January, 1343) was King of Naples from 1309 to 1343 The following is a list of monarchs of the Kingdom of Naples. However, on February 23, 1351 Joanna I of Naples sold the city to Florence in exchange of 17,500 golden florins. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Joan I (1328 – May 12, 1382) born Joanna of Anjou, was Queen of Naples from 1343 until her death Prato's history therefore followed that of the former in the following centuries.
Modern age
In 1512, during the War of the League of Cambrai, the city was sacked by Spanish troops assembled by Pope Julius II and emperor Charles V to recover the nearby city of Florence for the Medici family. The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names was a major conflict in the Italian Wars. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Pope Julius II (5 December 1443 &ndash 21 February 1513 born Giuliano Della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513 Charles V (24 February 1500 &ndash 21 September 1558 was Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany The severity of the sack of Prato led to the surrender of the Florentine Republic, and to the restoration of the Medici rule. Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany The army slaughtered some 50,000 Pratesi in the streets.
In 1653 Prato obtained the status of city and became seat of a Catholic diocese. The city was embellished in particular during the 18th century.
After the unification of Italy in the 19th century, Prato became a primary industrial centre, especially in the textile sector (Italian historian Emanuele Repetti described it as the "Italian Manchester"), and population grew up to 50,000 in 1901 and to 180,000 in 2001. Italian Unification ( Italian: il Risorgimento, or "The Resurgence" was the political and social movement that unified different states of the Italian Emanuele Repetti (1776-1852 was an Italian Historian and Expert in the Natural sciences who wrote extensively on the history of Etruria Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The town experienced a substantial immigration; currently it has a Chinese community of 10,000/20,000 people, from Wenzhou province. The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Administration The Prefecture-level city of Wenzhou currently administers 3 district, 2 county-level cities and 6 counties.
Previously part of the province of Florence, in 1992 Prato became the capital of the eponymous province. The Province of Florence (Provincia di Firenze is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. The Province of Prato (Italian Provincia di Prato) is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Main sights
Prato is home to many museums and other cultural monuments, including the Filippo Lippi frescoes in the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, recently restored. Fra' Filippo Lippi (1406 &ndash October 8 1469 The Cathedral of Prato (Duomo di Prato is the main Catholic church of Prato, Tuscany, central Italy and seat of the bishop The Cathedral has an external pulpit by Donatello. Donatello ( Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi; c 1386 &ndash December 13, 1466) was a famous early Renaissance Italian
Palazzo Pretorio was built from the 13th century in red bricks. The part in white stone is from late-Gothic era. In the 16th century an external staircase and a watch were added. Also notable is the Palazzo Datini, built from 1383 for the merchant Francesco Datini. It has decorations by Florentine artists like Agnolo Gaddi and Niccolò Gerini. Agnolo Gaddi (born c 1350 active 1369-1396 died 1396 was an Italian painter In 1409 it housed Pope Alexander V and Louis of Anjou. Alexander V (also Peter of Candia or Peter Phillarges, ca 1339 &ndash May 3, 1410) was Antipope during the Western Schism The Palazzo degli Alberti (12th century) is home to an art gallery with works by Filippo Lippi (Prato Madonna), Giovanni Bellini (Crucifix with Jew Cemetery) and Caravaggio (The Crowning with Thorns). Fra' Filippo Lippi (1406 &ndash October 8 1469 Giovanni Bellini (c 1430 – 1516 was an Italian Renaissance painter probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, usually just known as Caravaggio, (28 September 1571 – 18 July 1610 was an Italian Artist active in Rome The Crowning with Thorns was the subject of two paintings by the Italian master Caravaggio.
The Castello dell'Imperatore is the northernmost castle built by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in Italy. Castello dell'Imperatore (Italian "Emperor's Castle" is a Castle in Prato, Tuscany, Italy. Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title A further major attraction of the city is the Centro per l'arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci a museum and education centre concerned with contemporary arts. Centro per l'arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci ( Centre for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci) is sited at 277 Via della Repubblica Prato near Florence, Italy Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II.
Other churches include:
- Santa Maria delle Carceri, commissioned by Lorenzo de' Medici to Giuliano da Sangallo in 1484. Santa Maria delle Carceri is a Basilica church in Prato, Tuscany, Italy. Lorenzo de' Medici (January 1 1449 &ndash 9 April 1492 was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance Giuliano da Sangallo (c 1443 – 1516 was an Italian sculptor architect and Military engineer active during the Italian Renaissance It is one Greek cross plan, inspired to Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 – April 15, 1446) was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. The Pazzi Chapel ( Italian: Cappella dei Pazzi) in Florence is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Renaissance architecture. Works lasted for some twenty years. The interior is run by a bichromatic maiolica frieze by Luca della Robbia, also author of four tondos depicting the four Evangelists in the cupola. Maiolica designates Italian Tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. Luca della Robbia (1400-1482 was an Italian sculptor from Florence, noted for his Terracotta roundels The Four Evangelists refers to the authors of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following ancient titles Gospel according The external façade is unfinished, only the western part being completed in the 19th century according to Sangallo's design.
- Sant'Agostino, built from 1440 over an existing edifice from 1271.
- San Domenico (begun in 1281), with a portal from 1310.
- San Francesco (1281-1331). It houses a notable funerary monument of Gemriniano Inghirami (died 1460), and the frescoes by Niccolò Gerini in the Migliorati Chapel.
- San Fabiano, already existing in 1082. It houses precious traces of a pavement mosaic dating from the 9th-11th centuries. Also notable is the 15th century bell tower.
- the late-Baroque Monastery of San Vincenzo.
Prato is also the home of the Monash University Centre directed by Dr Annamaria Pagliaro. Monash University is a Public university based in Melbourne, Australia. The Centreis now the largest Australian academic institution of its kind in Europe, providing a strong link between Australian scholars, students, and their European counterparts, as well as providing English-language training. The centre hosts many international conferences in its heritage-listed building.
Museums
Frazioni
Prato has a number of frazionis, namely:
Borgonuovo, Cafaggio, Canneto, Capezzana, Casale, Castelnuovo, Chiesanuova, Coiano, Figline di Prato, Filettole, Fontanelle, Galcetello, Galceti, Galciana, Gonfienti, Grignano, I Ciliani, I Lecci, Il Cantiere, Il Guado, Il Soccorso, Iolo, La Castellina, La Conca, La Dogaia, La Macine, La Pietà, La Querce, Le Badie, Le Caserane, Le Fonti, Le Fornaci, Maliseti, Mazzone, Mezzana, Narnali, Paperino, Pizzidimonte, Reggiana, San Giorgio a Colonica, San Giusto, San Paolo, Santa Cristina a Pimonte, Santa Lucia, Santa Maria a Colonica, Sant'Andrea, Sant'Ippolito, Tavola, Tobbiana, Viaccia, Vergaio. A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a Comune; for other Administrative
Notable citizens
- Nicolo Albertini, cardinal, in the 1200s
- Francesco Datini, merchant in the 1300s, "the merchant of Prato"
- Ignazio Fresu, sculptor, 1957-
- Filippino Lippi, painter in the 1500s
- Lorenzo Bartolini, sculptor, 1777-1850
- Curzio Malaparte, writer, 1898-1957
- Fiorenzo Magni, cyclist, 1920-
- Roberto Benigni, actor and director (actually born near Arezzo but he used to live in Prato with the family. Nicolò Albertini (c 1250 &ndash 27 April, 1321) was an Italian Dominican, statesman and Cardinal. Ignazio Fresu (born 1957 is an Italian contemporary sculptor He creates his artworks using waste products such as pieces of old metal polystyrene and packaging collected from bins dumps Filippo Lippi (c 1457 &ndash April 1504 was a well-known painter working during the High Renaissance in Florence, Italy. Lorenzo Bartolini ( 7 January 1777 - 20 January 1850) was an Italian sculptor who infused his Neoclassicism with Curzio Malaparte ( June 9, 1898 - July 19, 1957) born Kurt Erich Suckert, was an Italian journalist dramatist short-story Fiorenzo Magni (born December 7, 1920) is an Italian former professional Road racing cyclist. Roberto Remigio Benigni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (born 27 October 1952 is an Academy Award -winning Italian actor writer and director of Arezzo ( Latin Arretium) is a city in central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in )
- Jury Chechi, gymnast, olympic gold medalist
- Domenico Zipoli, composer, 1688-1726
- Paolo Rossi, soccer player, World Champion, European Footballer of the Year and World Player of the Year in 1982
- Christian Vieri, soccer player
Sister cities
Nam Dinh, Vietnam, from 1975
Albemarle County, USA, from 1977
Roubaix, France, from 1981
Changzhou, People's Republic of China, from 1987
Ebensee, Austria, from 1987
Wangen im Allgäu, Germany, from 1988
Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, from 1997
Bir Lehlu, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, from 1999
Pabianice, Poland, from 2001- Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, from 1999
Harare, Zimbabwe
See also
External links
- Culture in Prato
- Complete Image galleries of the town, the medieval historic centre, churches and the chinese quarter (Italian)
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