We will be in Florence for a week and are planning our day trips. We are thinking of going to Prato or Pistoia or maybe both. If anyone has been to either one or both, your suggestions/opinions would be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by
Boston
1804 posts
Pistoia was the more interesting to me with a very Tuscan brick look, a nice vibe, friendly people, some notable sculpture and architecture, an excellent grand piazza, a tower to climb and as a bonus multiple types of tripe for lunch.
Prato is a less centralized but active city, and it has an excellent textile museum and Italy's largest Chinese community. It also has the Renaissance Datini house - home to a textile dealer featured in Iris Origo's The Merchant of Prato - which is very interesting, but not worth a trip by itself.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1593 posts
Prato is on my list for this November, but we loved Pistoia a few years ago --- so many green and white striped buildings, and seeing the Cappella del Tau frescoes. The exact kind of 14th century somewhat weird post-Giotto paintings that I go to Italy to see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_del_Tau,_Pistoia and also: https://corvinus.nl/2021/03/28/pistoia-cappella-del-tau-2/
A quick train trip from Florence, but a world away from the Florence crowds. We were looking at those frescoes for a good hour and no one else came in!
Posted by
OP
47 posts
Thank you so much for your replies. We are definitely planning on going to Pistoia. Much appreciated
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
Pistoia deserves its time, so I would spend a day, maybe even have dinner there. Prato can be done in a quick visit, but since it's so close (lots of my friends commute daily there from Florence), you can visit Prato on another day even for just a few hours while you digest lunch.
Posted by
New England
702 posts
In Pistoia if you are interested is the Church of San Giovanni Fuorcivitas which holds a famous Della Robbia sculpture, The Visitation, as well as a notable carved 1270 pulpit by Fra Guglielmo da Pisa.
Modest entrance fee. Here’s an info page (in Italian)
https://www.visitpistoia.eu/scopri/chiese/chiesa-di-san-giovanni-fuorcivitas/
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1145 posts
Prato has two really good museums - I've been to one - the Textile Museum and the Museum of Tolerance. I highly recommend the Textile Museum (if that interests you) and don't miss the little cafe next door which is very good.
If you are choosing simply based on the town I think most people would choose Pistoia. If you wanted to make a quick stop in Prato and check it out you could combine with Lucca but I would give Lucca more time. If you go take the bus from in front of the train station to old town section of town which is the more interesting part as a tourist.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Posted by
West Chester PA
122 posts
FYI...be aware that Pistoia shuts down mid-day....there will be some restaurants open but all shops including supermarket will close for several hours. I stayed there 3 months in 2022 and will stay 3 months this Fall. Took a bit of getting used to for sure so I do recommend you visit (it's lovely and not crowded) but something to consider depending on time of day you visit. I would recommend a visit on market day (Saturday I think...but check) ...very lively and markets are always a good time. Have fun!