Prato, Medieval city in Tuscany, Italy
Prato is a commune in Tuscany located about 17 kilometers northwest of Florence, marked by its medieval heritage and textile industry. The town spreads across a plain between hills, with the old center enclosed by stone walls and modern residential areas expanding outward.
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa granted the settlement city rights in 1140, enabling wool trade to develop. In the 14th century, the commune merged with the neighboring town of Borgo al Cornio, forming a larger trading hub.
The old center keeps its fortifications from the Middle Ages, through which pedestrians still walk to reach the main shopping streets today. Local bakeries sell cantucci biscuits, while wool shops along the lanes recall centuries of textile work in the town.
Visitors find most shops and restaurants within the walled zone, where streets are closed to cars. On Sundays many local businesses remain closed, while market days on weekdays fill streets with stalls.
A large portion of Chinese immigrants arrived here during the 1990s to work in garment factories, creating neighborhoods with Asian groceries and restaurants. Visitors notice bilingual signs along certain streets, reflecting this demographic shift.
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