Have you heard about Italian Tuscany? I invite you to discover Prato, the city where I grew up. It is located 15 km from Florence and stands out for its culture and traditions.
The city of Prato combines the best of both worlds by having ancient architectural buildings and places steeped in history along with a modern urban lifestyle.
Its historic center preserves the beauty and elegance of the medieval precincts of the Tuscan cities that are a true door to the past, just like the Castello dell'Imperatore, considered one of the most important castles in central western Italy. It is the only example of Nordic military architecture in the territory of Tuscany and is the ideal place to spend your weekends if you like to walk and visit tourist places.
After Florence, Prato is the second most populous city in the region and stands out for being one of the most important textile cities in Europe, as it has sometimes inspired exclusive collections of fabrics such as yarns and woolen fabrics that have participated in important fashion shows since this province is the main point of purchase for important brands.
In addition to the fantastic views and traditions that this picturesque Tuscan city offers, my favorite part (and the favorite of many tourists) is the gastronomy, Prato has a wide variety of flavors, textures and dishes to offer. The food in this province tends to be unique thanks to the use of basic ingredients, such as the incomparable Pane di Prato, which adapts to each hour of the day. Traditionally, its preparation begins before dawn, also the cazzottino, which is the perfect complement for breakfast and snacks along with a few slices of the also traditional mortadella, which has a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), due to the Alkermes, a characteristic liquor of the region, that is used for its preparation.
Filone is a bread created to be sliced and spread with delicious jams of the region, or with a spread of olive oil, and is usually given to children that go out to play calcio with their friends to help them keep energy between games. In the gastronomy of the region, the most elaborate dishes also stand out, such as apio alla pratese, a stew that comes from the heritage of when the Medici lived in the region and is made with the tender parts of the stem that are later blanched and stuffed with chicken, beef or egg, then fried and dipped in a delicious homemade pomodoro sauce.
The charming city of Prato was known in the 12th century as the "città delle sessanta torri" because in downtown there are vertical buildings that served as homes and watchtowers in case of war or warlike events. Get to know my beautiful city that continues to amaze with emblematic places, movie screenings in open-air cinemas, celebrations and traditions that make traveling to Prato a trip back in time to medieval times.
