Towards the cradle of the Renaissance and the industrial heartland
The bas-relief is read from left to right and from top to bottom, across three horizontal levels.
The letters, set on slightly raised plaques, refer to the caption below, which also indicates the orientation of the panoramic views.

A – The Calvana Hills – marked with the letter A: in this view, we follow the continuation of the Calvana, where one can rediscover the millennia-old history of the Prato area: on its slopes, in the hilly area of Pizzidimonte between Prato and Calenzano, the ‘Offerente’ – a small Etruscan votive bronze statue now housed in the British Museum – was discovered in 1735.
B – Monte Morello – marked with the letter B: in the distance rises Monte Morello, the imposing, isolated peak that dominates the horizon, in an area rich in watercourses, springs and historical sites.
C – Prato-Florence Plain – marked with the letter C: as you continue, to the right lies the vast plain linking the cities of Prato and Florence. On the clearest days, you can make out the unmistakable silhouette of Brunelleschi’s dome on Florence Cathedral.
D – Case Torri – marked with the letter D: on the left, within the town centre, stand the two medieval towers on Via Pugliesi: the Torre dei Giudei, known as ‘della Buca’, and the Torre degli Ammannati.
E – Church of San Bartolomeo – marked with the letter E: in the background between the two towers on Via Pugliesi, in the spacious Piazza Mercatale, stands the Church of San Bartolomeo, recognisable by its tall bell tower. It was rebuilt in the 1950s following the devastating bombings of the Second World War. Also destroyed in 1944 was Filippino Lippi’s famous “Tabernacolo del Mercatale”, which had stood on the corner of the square since the late 15th century; its frescoes, saved and restored by the Prato-based restorer Leonetto Tintori, are now on display in the museum.
F – Church of Santa Maria delle Carceri – marked with the letter F: to the right, in the centre, stands the Church of Santa Maria delle Carceri. The building was erected at the end of the 15th century at the behest of Lorenzo the Magnificent, on the site of an ancient prison; the remains of the medieval prisons can still be visited today. The complex is characterised by a central dome and an elegant 18th-century bell tower. According to tradition, in 1484 an image of the Virgin Mary performed a miracle in this church by coming to life before a child.
G – Castello dell’Imperatore – marked with the letter G: near the Church of Santa Maria delle Carceri stands the majestic medieval fortress of the Castello dell’Imperatore. The only example of Swabian architecture in central-northern Italy, it was built at the behest of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia at a strategic point controlling the imperial road. In the past, it was connected to the Cassero, a ‘corridor’ erected by the Florentines in the 14th century to move unnoticed between the Castle and the city walls and vice versa, with the aim of controlling and administering the city.
H – Campolmi Chimney – marked with the letter H: on the right stands the Campolmi Chimney. It is situated in the historic centre within the medieval walls and was Prato’s largest 19th-century factory. It was only when textile production ceased in 1994 that the building was converted into a municipal cultural centre, which now houses the Textile Museum and the Lazzerini Library.
I – Buonamici Garden – marked with the letter I: continuing from the left, at the bottom centre, nestled amongst the rooftops is the roof garden of Palazzo Banci Buonamici, an intimate green corner with traces of ancient medieval structures, now the seat of the Provincial Administration.
D – Case Torri – marked with the letter D: continuing on, the Torre dei Ginori, built in Piazza Sant’Antonino, rises above the surrounding area.
L – Church of San Francesco – marked with the letter L: finally, one can recognise the Church of San Francesco, one of the city’s principal religious buildings and part of the tradition of the mendicant orders, alongside San Domenico and Sant’Agostino. Of medieval origin, the church is characterised by the simplicity of its red-brick structure, typical of Franciscan architecture. Its elegant façade, featuring two-coloured bands of Alberese stone and serpentine, is particularly striking. Inside the church is the white marble tombstone of Francesco di Marco Datini, a famous 14th-century merchant from Prato.