Radtour Toskana, Umbrien und Latium

Mon. to Sat. 9:30 - 19:00,
Sun. and public holidays 9:30 - 18:30.

Prato is a city of 186,710 habitants of Tuscany, immediately to the west of Florence, it is capital of the homonymous province since 1992. The city is famous in Italy and worldwide textile production and the famous biscuit with almonds better known as "cantuccio". In recent decades, Prato, has enjoyed a significant population boom and increased immigration. In fact it is currently the second city of Tuscany, the third of central Italy (after Rome and Florence) and the eighteenth in Italy for its population. Prato and its Province are located in the heart of Tuscany, ideal location to reach the other famous cities in the region. The city and its surrounding area offer interesting and prestigious artistic itineraries, nature and gastronomy. Spend the holidays in Prato means for tourists to dive into the past with an eye towards the future, a journey that goes to contemporary art from the Etruscans.

Understand

Prato is the low-profile cousin of Florence and Pisa in the Central Italy region of Tuscany. Not as mobbed with tourists and without the typical tourist ripoffs it is nonetheless rich with history, art, and great food. It's a great place to stay and save a few dollars while doing day trips to Pisa or Florence.

As regards the area, Prato is a city that is part of the north-east and covers about 100 square km. Located at the foot of the mountain of Retaia, is the highest peak of the town of Prato is the mountain Cantagrilli. The river through meadows and the Bisenzio, a tributary of the Arno.

See

Churches

• ⊙Duomo of Prato (Cathedral of Santo Stefano) (leaving the Piazza of Comune and leaving along the Corso Mazzoni you reach the large Piazza del Duomo). At the large Piazza del Duomo is the Cathedral of Santo Stefano. A splendid example of Romanesque - Gothic Tuscan, the Cathedral is characterized by clever use of two colors on alberese clear and serpentine green marble from Prato, typical materials of town until 1400. On the right side of the front is the famous pulpit, built between 1433 and 1438 by Michelozzo and decorated by Donatello, the pulipito was designed specifically for the Exposition of the Holy Girdle of the Virgin Mary, preserved in the chapel inside the Basilica. Splendidi and precious are the frescoes by Filippo Lippi in the Cappella Maggiore, the famous dance of Salome. 
• Bishop's Palace. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Bishop's Palace (XIV-XVII century), part of which is occupied by the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. 

In the territory of Prato, probably since the eighth century, there was a reorganization of the Church with the division into districts that were owned by new churches, the churches (from plebs, the people, namely the community of the baptized), with the baptismal font. The churches listed below are those that were already in medieval churches and are included in the diocese of Prato:

• San Giusto in Piazzanese
• San Lorenzo a Usella
• San Michele a Montecuccoli
• San Pietro a Figline
• San Pietro a Iolo
• San Vito e San Modesto a Sofignano
• Santa Maria a Colonica
• Santa Maria a Filettole
• Sant'Ippolito e San Cassiano
• Sant'Ippolito in Piazzanese

Prato was long known as "City of the Virgin" for the strong Marian devotion that, initially linked to the veneration of the Sacred Belt, then grew with the construction of shrines dedicated to Our Lady (three parishes are today), these are is recently added one dedicated to St. Anthony Mary Pucci.

Monuments

• Fourteenth-century walls. Within these gathered almost all the major historic buildings. The hexagonal circuit of the walls enclosing the original core city of Prato, dotted with ancient tower houses. 
• ⊙Castello dell'Imperatore (Emperor's Castle). Fortress, also known as Santa Barbara or Swabian castle, can be considered the most important architectural evidence of centuries XI-XIII. 
• Piazza del Comune. Created at the end of the thirteenth century, the intersection of two main roads of the city. In the central area of the square is the Fountain of Bacchino, which was cast in bronze between 1659 and 1665 by Ferdinando Tacca, during the recognition status of city of Prato. In front of City Hall (located in the square) is also found in white Carrara marble statue dedicated to the merchant of Prato, Francesco Datini Antonio Garella (1896). 
  • ⊙Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), Piazza del Comune, 2 (overlooking Praetorian Palace),  ☎ +39 0574 183622 0.
    It was created as the seat of the priors, linking different buildings. Currently it houses the Town Hall. In the hall of the Municipal Council are held two frescoes of the fourteenth century, representing an Allegory of Justice and Majesty. Inside the building are kept several portraits of the Podestà of Prato and the Granduchi of Tuscany. 
  • ⊙Palazzo Pretorio and Museum (Praetorian Palace), Piazza del Comune,  ☎ +39 0574 193499 6 or on weekends +39 574 1837860. Mon, Wed-Sun 10:30-18:30 (last admission at 18:00), Tue closed.
    The old Town Hall Lawn, located in the town square opposite of the current Town Hall. Since 1912 it houses the Museo Civico. After major restoration works the palace and museum opened again in 2013 to the public. €8. (updated Dec 2015)
• ⊙Datini Palace, Via Ser Lapo Mazzei, 43,  ☎ +39 0574 21391.
  It was the home of the famous merchant Francesco di Marco Datini (Prato 1335-1410). He leaves an important witness to himself, made up of records and correspondence, which constitute a substantial fund today filed with the State Archives of Prato, which is housed in the old house. 
• ⊙Sculpture by Henry Moore (Large Square Form with Cut), Piazza San Marco. This is one of many contemporary works of art that the city hosts. The square-shaped cut of the famous contemporary sculptor Henry Moore. 

Museums

• ⊙Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. This museum is adjacent to the cathedral and occupies parts of the Bishop's Palace (XIV-XVII century). 
• ⊙Museo del Tessuto (Textile museum), Via Puccetti 3,  ☎ +39 0574 611503.  
• ⊙Museo di pittura murale, Piazza San Domenico 8, ☎ +39 0574 440501. 

Pistoia ist eine italienische Provinzhauptstadt der gleichnamigen Provinz in der Toskana .

Hintergrund

Die im frühen Mittelalter noch selbständige Stadt, kam Ende des 14. Jahrhunderts endgültig in den Machtbereich der Medici von Florenz. Durch die dadurch entstehende politische Bedeutungslosigkeit stand sie immer hinter den beiden großen Nachbarstädte Pisa und Florenz. Seit 1927 ist sie Hauptstadt der gleichnamigen Provinz.

Sehenswürdigkeiten

Die Stadt besitzt sehr viele alte Gebäude, die Altstadt als gesamtes ist sehr sehenswert. Hier besonders der Domplatz und das Marktviertel.

Kirchen, Moscheen, Synagogen, Tempel

• Die ⊙Cattedrale di San Zeno (Duomo San Zeno) entstand im 12. und 13. Jahrhundert an der Stelle eines Vorgängerbaus aus dem 5. Jahrhundert. Dem im romanischen Stil erbaute Dom ist ein Portikus vorgelagert. Im Innenraum ist der Silberaltar des heiligen Jakobus besonders sehenswert.
• Die Kirche ⊙San Giovanni Fourcivitas befindet sich in der Via Cavor. Hier verlief früher die alte Stadtmauer und die Kirche befand sich beim Bau außerhalb dieser. Mit dem Bau der Kirche der Benidiktiner wurde um 1150 begonnen und im 14. Jahrhundert vollendet. Im Türsturz des Hauptportals befindet sich das von Gruamonte im Jahre 1160 geschaffene Abendmalrelief. Im einschiffigen Innenraum ist die um 1270 geschaffene Kanzel von Fra Guglielmo da Pisa besonders sehenswert. Das Weihwasserbecken ist vermutlich die erste selbständige Arbeit von Giovanni Pisanos. Das Polyptychon neben dam Hauptaltar wurde zwischen 1353 und 1355 von Taddeo Gaddi geschaffen.
• Die ⊙Basilica della Madonna dell'Umiltà, Kirche der Madonna der Demut, erbaut zwischen 1495 und 1561, besitzt die drittgrößte Kuppel Italiens.
• Die Kirche ⊙Sant'Andrea befindet sich im Nordwesten der Altstadt. Sie besitzt eine sehr schöne Fassade. Im Innenraum ist die Kanzel, die von Giovanni Pisono zwischen 1298 und 1301 gestaltet wurde, sicher das künstlerisch wertvollste Stück.
• ⊙Kirche San Bartolomeo. Die Kirche befindet sich außerhalb der mittelalterlichen Stadt im ehemaligen Sumpfgebiet Pantano (pantano=Sumpf). Mit dem Bau der Kirche, die 1159 begonnen wurde, besitzt eine sehr schöne Fassade, welche aus Rundbögen auf Halbsäulen besteht. Über dem Hauptportal befindet sich ein reichverzierter Architrav, welcher 1167 entstand. Die Kanzel im Innenraum wurde um 1250 von Guido da Como geschaffen.

Bauwerke

• ⊙Ospedale del Ceppo. Das Krankenhaus wurde im 13. Jahrhundert als Krankenhaus und Pilgerherberge erbaut. Der Portikus (Vorhalle) ist mit einem polychromen Majolikafries ausgeschmückt. Dieses wurde von Künstlern aus der Werkstatt von Giovanni della Robbia geschaffen.

Museen

• ⊙Museo Civico, Piazza del Duomo, 1, ☎ +39 0573 371296. Geöffnet: Juni-Sept. Mo – Fr 15:00 – 19:00 Uhr, Sa/So/F 11:00 – 19:00 Uhr, Okt.-Mai Di – Fr 10:00 – 14:00 Uhr, Sa/So/F 11:00 – 18:00 Uhr. Erw. 3,50€, red. 2,00€
  Die künstlerische Geschichte von Pistoia vom zwölften bis zum zwanzigsten Jahrhundert wird durch über 300 Werke dargestellt.
• ⊙Museo Diocesano, im Palazzo Rospigliosi, Via Ripa del Sale, 3, ☎ +39 0573 28740. Geöffnet: Di – Sa 10.00 – 13.00 Uhr + 16.00 – 19.00 Uhr.
• ⊙Centro di Documentazione e Fondazione Marino Marini Corso Silvano Fedi, 30, ☎ +39 0573 30285. Geöffnet: Di – Sa 9.00 – 13.00 Uhr + 15.00 – 19.00 Uhr, So + Feiertags 9.00 – 12.30 Uhr. Seit 2020 borübergehend geschlossen.
  Das Centro widmet sich dem Leben und Schaffen von Marino Marini. Es ist in der ehemalugen Ordenskirche San'Antonio dei Frati del Tau untergebracht, welche am Corso San Ferdi liegt, eingerichtet. Der Bildhauer wurde 1901 in Pistoia geboren und starb 1980.

Straßen und Plätze

• Auf dem ⊙Piazza dell Sala wird vormittags immer der Gemüsemarkt abgehalten.

Montecatini Terme is a city in the County of Pistoia in Tuscany.

Often defined as garden city due to the presence of imposing thermal and public parks, it is renowned in the world for its thermal waters (springs), that are good for gastrointestinal processes and for cholesterol. Most of its thermal and historical buildings are in Art Nouveau style, some are decorated by Galileo Chini, the most famous Art Nouveau artist in Italy. Montecatini Terme is one of 11 "Great Spa Towns of Europe", a transcontinental UNESCO world heritage site. 

Understand

Montecatini Terme is on the eastern edge of the Piana di Lucca in the Val di Nievole and is the largest and most famous spa town in Tuscany. Above the city lies Montecatini Alto, the historic center of the city can also be reached by funicular.

History

Montecatini Alto was the original village: documents state that it's been on top of a hill of 300 m overlooking Valdinievole since the Roman empire, due to its view over the valley. During the Middle Ages, Montecatini Alto was strategically important due to the presence of salts in its land and its position between Florence and Lucca. By the 16th century, the Padule marshlands, which had covered all of Montecatini Terme, had been drained. Later on the thermal springs became the most important business for the area: the Grandduke Leopoldo of Tuscany made this the most important thermal spa in the world.

The Tettuccio Terme was built in the late 18th century by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine, the son of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa. The first three spas that were built were the Tettuccio, the Regina and Leopoldine. These spas made Montecatini Terme famous all over Europe, and a favorite place for the rich and the royalty. Famous visitors included Giacomo Puccini, who composed part of La Boheme here, and Giuseppe Verdi, who spent his holidays here for over 29 years and inaugurated the Funicolare.

Geography

Montecatini Terme is in the Valdinievole, the south Valdarno area (the land of Leonardo da Vinci) which is part of the province of Pistoia. The area has been marshy ever since the Roman age, as noted by Tito Livio and Annibale, with thermal springs that are extremely rich in minerals and salts and well known for their healing effects. Romans underlined the "holiness" of these waters.

See

Montecatini Terme

Montecatini Terme is a beautiful town that was built around its mineral water springs. The spring water is considered to help people with trouble with the stomach or liver. Healthy people can enjoy the old time grandeur of the town, stroll in the park or enjoy spa treatments in the various hotels.

The most famous spa in town is the Tettuccio Terme located on the main street of Montecatini Terme - Viale Verdi, next to the park. on the same street you can find the municipality building and the tourist information center.

• ⊙Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Piazza del Popolo 31 .
• 6Piazza del Popolo
• 5Teatro Verdi, Viale Verdi, 45 .
• ⊙Chiesa di San Francesco, Via Luigi Galvani, 17.
• ⊙Terme Leopoldine, Viale Giuseppe Verdi, 61. .
• ⊙Stabilimento Tamerici (Terme Tamerici)
• ⊙Terme Tettuccio, Piazzale Domenico Giusti
• ⊙Museo dell'Accademia d'Arte "D. Scalabrino" (Museo dell'Accademia d'arte Dino Scalabrino), Viale Armando Diaz, 6, Viale Diaz 6. ☎ +39 5727 72244 .

Montecatini Alto

• ⊙Rocca di Montecatini, Piazza della Fortezza .
• ⊙Chiesa dei Santi Jacopo e Filippo Alto, Via Ser Niccolò Tedeschi, 3-7 .
• ⊙Convento e chiesa di Santa Maria a Ripa, Via Porta di Borgo, 36 .
• ⊙Chiesa di San Pietro, Vicolo del Prataccio, 1 Montecatini Alto .