The story of the city in fact begins in
the 6th century AC, with the invasion of the Lombards,
who established themselves in the Valley of the Bisenzio
and in the Montemurlo area, even if it seems almost sure
that the area had already been inhabited in the
Palaeolithic period, and afterwards by Ligurians,
Etruscans (7th-5th centuries B.C.) and then by the
Romans as various findings respectively bear witness in
the area of Galceti, the archaeological area around
Artimino and the ancient name of "Pagus Cornius"given to
these places.
The free Commune
In the second half of the 11th century two distinct
groups of inhabitants united to form the town: Borgo al
Cornio, situated in the area of what is now the
cathedral square, where the ancient church of S. Stefano
probably already existed, and the nearby castle of
Pratum belonging to the Count Alberti, which gave the
name to the town.
................ the
Marian sanctuary
...............................
The people of Prato gave themselves an
autonomous form of government, the Commune, entrusted to
Consuls and Podestas elected for six months.
Between the end of the 12th and the beginning of the
13th century, two subsequent walls were built in defence
around the city which had become important for the
commerce of wool. During the same period Prato
experienced fierce battles between Guelphs and
Ghibellines and suffered the difficult and intrusive
vicinity of Florence which also determined their
political institutional life.
.......................
St. Niccolo's Monastery
.................
In the 14th century there was famine and
epidemics, and Prato suffered a radical demographic loss.
Following this period of unrest, the wealthy families
that survived the 1348 epidemic were able to rebuild
their palaces.
|
|
A very dramatic event was the 1512
pillage by the Spanish troops who had come to restore
the deposed Medici Seigniory and was to serve as a
warning to the city of Florence.
The modern city
In 1653 with the institution of the Diocese, Prato was
given the title of city, while, until then, it had been
called "terra"(land).
If during the 16th and 17th centuries Prato saw a
relatively stagnant period, already in the 1700s, with
the economic policy of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, ruled
by the Lorena family encouraging Prato's textile
activity, the basis of a modern city started to appear.
The already outdated Corporations were abolished, and
the Chamber of Commerce was founded.
During the first 10 years of the 19th century, the
industrial mechanisation had begun and during the second
half of the century, the typical production of recycled
wool from textile waste developed. These products sold
all over the world lying the foundations which allowed
the city to achieve its present leadership in this
sector.
S. Domenico Convent
|
|
|
