photos by Marco Badiani
Editor’s note: In the premier issue of The Tuscan Times, an exciting new supplement to The Florentine (read more about it here), our contributors shared their insider knowledge of their home bases with us. Cassie Prena of Captured Holidays Vacation Photography is one of our Prato correspondents, and we had to pick her brain on the best of everything in her area–this summer and beyond.
1/ Best bar in your area for an aperitivo?
I Frari, Prato: packed with trendy pratesi from mid-afternoon until late in the night. Their specialty is Tuscan taglieri, loaded meat, cheese and crostini platters.
2/ Favorite restaurant for Tuscan food with a twist
Le Garage, Prato: a modern take on traditional Tuscan food. The restaurant uses lots of fresh Tuscan ingredients to make creamy purées, artful arrangements and interesting dishes.
3/ Best traditional dish in your area
Meat-stuffed celery, sedani ripieni alla pratese
4/ Best place to people-watch
Definitely in Prato’s piazza del Comune. Grab a drink and a table outdoors at Buon Amici and watch the drama of the piazza unfold
5/ One shop every English speaker should know about
Prato’s Biscottificio Antonio Mattei. Buy a confection of cantucci cookies in the classic blue bag (it’s been the same since their opening in the 1800s) and a bottle of Vin Santo for dipping!
6/ The best “Tuscan-ism” you’ve got up your sleeve
Sono di Prato e voglio essere rispettato, but of course pronounced like a true pratese: sono di PraHo e voglio esser rispettaHo. In Prato, not only the “c”s are aspirated, but the “t”s as well.
7/ The event everyone’s talking about
Interpol’s concert on September 1 all’aperto in Prato’s piazza del Duomo! Soon after, the Pope will be heading to the city.
8/ Quirkiest summer sagra in your area
Beer festival in Prato and fried dough festival in nearby Montepiano
9/ Essential experience in your area
Just outside the city’s historic walls, you’ll find Prato’s version of “Chinatown”. Here, hungry tourists should eat at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Ravioli Liu. Expect to eat like a king for under 10 euro.
10/ Weirdest Tuscan summer ritual
Cervicale, that cold air on your neck can make you sick
11/ A place that inspires you
Palazzo Pretorio Museum
12/ Best place to watch a Tuscan summer sunset
From the top of Prato’s old Castello dell’Imperatore
13/ One mistake visitors should avoid
Prato was and is an industrial city. Don’t come to Prato only for the Renaissance or medieval art. Take advantage of the city’s industrial past and present by visiting things like the textile museum or one of the new venues in restored factories.
