Page 334 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

332  CENTR AL IT AL Y

0 Prato valley. Its key building is the
semi-derelict Rocca (castle),
* 190,000. @ n Piazza Buonamici 7
(0574 241 12). ( Mon. built for Frederick II, German
Holy Roman Emperor, in the
While textile factories gird 13th century. Close by stands
Prato’s outskirts, the city centre the Museo Diocesano, which is
retains several important home to a Crucifixion (c.1430)
churches and museums. The attributed to Filippo Lippi, a
Duomo (begun 1211) is flanked terracotta bust of Christ
by the Pulpit of the Holy Girdle attributed to Verrocchio (1435–
(1434–8), designed by Donatello 88), and the Virgin of the Holy
and Michelozzo, used once Buontalenti’s Villa di Artimino, or “Villa Girdle by Andrea del Castagno
a year to display a girdle, of a Hundred Chimneys” (c.1417–57). Next door, the red-
reputedly given to Thomas the brick Romanesque façade of the
Apostle before the Assumption q Artimino Duomo dates from the 12th
of the Virgin. Inside the Duomo Prato. * 400. @ century. Its strange inset
is The Life of John the Baptist majolica plates, evidence of
(1452–66) by Fra Filippo Lippi, A small fortified hamlet, Artimino trade with Spain or North Africa,
and a fresco cycle (1392–5) by is remarkable for the unspoiled probably represent the North
Agnolo Gaddi. Romanesque church of San Star and the constellations of
Other sights include the Leonardo. Outside the walls lies Ursa Major and Minor (all three
Museo di Palazzo Pretorio; the Villa di Artimino, designed were key points of reference
Santa Maria delle Carceri, a by Buontalenti in 1594 for Grand for early navigators).
Renaissance church in Piazza Duke Ferdinando I. Also known
delle Carceri; the Castello as the “Villa of a Hundred E Museo Diocesano
dell’Imperatore, a fortress built Chimneys”, it used to house a Piazza Duomo. Tel 342 686 08 73.
by Emperor Frederick II in 1237; collection of beautiful exhibits Open daily (Oct–Mar: closed Wed
the Centro per l’Arte Contempo­ that are now in the Museo & Thu). &
ranea Pecci; and the Museo del Archeologico Comunale.
Tessuto, which traces the history
of Prato’s textile industry. Environs
Lovers of Pontormo’s paintings
E Museo di Palazzo Pretorio should visit the church of San
Palazzo Pretorio, Piazza del Michele in Carmignano, 5 km
Comune. Tel 0574 193 49 96. (3 miles) north of Artimino,
Open Wed–Mon. because it contains The
+ Castello dell’Imperatore Visitation (1530). East of here lies
Piazza delle Carceri. Open Wed–Mon. the villa of Poggio a Caiano.
Built in 1480 by Giuliano da
E Centro per l’Arte Sangallo for Lorenzo de’ Medici
Contemporanea Pecci (see p257), it was the first Italian
Viale della Repubblica 277. Tel 0574
53 17. Open Wed–Mon. & villa in the Renaissance style.
E Museo del Tessuto P Villa di Artimino
Via Puccetti 3. Tel 0574 61 15 03. Viale Papa Giovanni 23. Tel 055 87 51
Open Tue–Sun. & 41. Open Sat & Sun by appt.
E Museo Archeologico
Comunale di Artimino Façade of the Duomo in San Miniato
Piazza San Carlo 3. Tel 055 871 81 24.
Open 9:30am–1:30pm daily (also
3–6pm Sat & Sun). Closed Wed. & e Fiesole
P Poggio a Caiano Florence. * 15,000. @ n Via
Piazza Medici. Tel 055 87 70 12. Portigiani 3 (055 596 13 23/296). ( Sat.
Open daily. & 7
Fiesole stands in rolling hilly
countryside 8 km (5 miles) north
of Florence. Idyllically situated
w San Miniato among olive groves, it is a
Pisa. * 3,900. @ n Piazza del popular retreat from the city
Popolo (0571 427 45). ( Tue. thanks to its hilltop position
which attracts cool breezes.
This hilltop town manages to Founded in the 7th century BC,
Madonna del Ceppo by Fra Filippo Lippi in remain aloof from the vast the original Etruscan colony was
Prato’s Museo Civico industrial sprawl of the Arno a powerful force in central Italy,
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm