cheap villas in tuscany - Residence in Prato, Italy

PRATO: THE HEART OF CENTRAL ITALY
Roberto Benigni, Christian Vieiri, Paolo Rossi, Filippino Lippi, and Lorenzo Bartolini. Are we rambling? No, because this is not a random string of names of famous Italians, but a list of some of the eminent citizens of Prato. With close to 200,000 inhabitants, Prato is Tuscany’s second largest city and the third largest in Central Italy, after Rome and Florence. Historically, Prato’s economy has depended on the textile industry, and the modern Textile Museum reflects this history. Today, Prato is also a cosmopolitan and fast growing tourist destination, located just 13 km from Florence.

Since the late 1950s, the city has seen a wave of immigrants, first from southern Italy, then other nations. Since the late 1980s in particular, Prato has been home to a significant Chinese community. Prato is also a centre of the Slow Food movement, with many specialties, including cantucci, a type of biscotti, sold by local bakers. Incidentally, for those not in the know, the Slow Food movement was founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy to resist the fast food invasion and attempts to preserve the cultural cuisine and associated plants and seeds, domestic animals, and farming within a region.

So you know that when you come to Prato, you will sample all the local culinary delights that the city can offer at its various restaurants, hotels, farmhouses, and bed and breakfasts. Besides, Prato is also home to numerous museums and cultural monuments, including the Filippo Lippi frescoes in the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, which also has an external pulpit by Donatello. Yet another major attraction is the Centro per l’arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, a museum and education centre concerned with contemporary arts.

Then there is the Palazzo Pretorio, built around the 13th century in red brick. Also notable is the Palazzo Datini, built in the 14th century for the merchant Francesco Datini. The palace has decorations by famous Florentine artists and, in 1409, housed Pope Alexander V and Louis of Anjou. The Palazzo degli Alberti (12th century) is home to an art gallery with works by Filippo Lippi (Prato Madonna), Giovanni Bellini (Crucifix with Jew Cemetery) and Caravaggio (The Crowning with Thorns).

There are several other fascinating churches and palaces that you should see and which we cannot name here owing to lack of space, but do plan ahead for your visit by selecting your accommodation in Prato from our list (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Prato.htm) of hotels, vacation farmhouses, apartments, bed & breakfasts, and residences in the city and province of Prato. We guarantee you an unforgettable trip!

RESIDENCES IN TUSCANY: YOUR OWN PRIVATE PARADISE

Okay, how does this sound: 10 elegant apartments offering a luxurious, timeless taste of Tuscan country life. Pretty gardens, a large swimming pool and delightful views of the ancient city of Cortona... Residence Il Casale offers guests a rare opportunity to sample the lifestyle and opulence of the Renaissance nobility in eastern Tuscany. This is a marvellously well-preserved 16th century structure that looks out towards the towers and churches that pierce the Cortona skyline. The 10 vacation apartments are dominated by the original building with its stone tower, wide balcony and external staircase.

You think we’re rambling? Well, not really, because we offer you the choicest Tuscany vacation residences for your sojourn to one of the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations, and we assure you that the description in the last paragraph is only a sampler of the kind of Tuscany residences that we can offer you. All you need to do is visit us and go through our list of the best residences in Tuscany, any of which can be your vacation home. We enable you to speak to the owners of these beautiful properties direct, and you can make your own arrangements thereafter. All we do is act as facilitators, and once you experience our services, you will agree that approaching us for help is a good way to begin your trip to Tuscany.

And in case you thought we were limited to a single region of Tuscany, here’s one more sampler: Located in Venturina Terme (Campiglia Marittima) province of Livorno, the Residence Le Corti Del Sole is the perfect location to enjoy your holiday and devote your time to the various thermal springs in and around the area. Near the Residence are the Costa Degli Etruschi, Elba Isle, and within easy reach lie important cities like Pisa, Siena and Florence. It’s also an ideal starting point to visit the lovely cities of Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, Suvereto and Campiglia.

As is obvious, then, we can offer you residences in all parts of Tuscany, and would invite you to visit us without further ado. Without exception, the residences that we have chosen for you are perfectly located to offer tourists every modern facility, as well as allow them to soak in the delightful ambience of old world Tuscany. Still not convinced? Maybe you should just check us out then.

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