The Cathedral of Prato

The Cathedral was built between the XIV-th and XV-th century on the pre-existing building of the ancient Saint Stephen Church. The actual building still saves the Romanic aspect of the original building.

On the main portal it is possible to admire an earthen-made lunette, dating back to the XV-th century and portraying an "Our Lady with the Child between the Saints Lorenz and Stephen" made by Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525).

In the right corner is placed the "Pulpit of the Holy Cincture", being this latter made by important artists like Donatello (1386-1466), Michelozzo (1396-1472), Pagno di Lapo Portigiani (1408-1470) and Maso di Bartolomeo. It consists of a canopy held by a column and surrounded by a parapet, whereas in the left corner there is a bronzy capital.

From the right side of the Cathedral rises a thirteenth-century belfry made by an earthen limestone and equipped with a three windows.

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The interior of the Cathedral has three aisles divided by green marble-made columns surmounted by fine capitals.

At the beginning of the left aisle there is the "Chapel of the Holy Cincture" that saves the relics of the Holy Waist. It is circled by a fence and whose inside there is cycle of frescoes painted by Agnolo Gaddi (1345-1396) portraying the story about how the Holy Waist arrived from Jerusalem to Prato thanks to the merchant Michele Dagomari from Prato, who according to the tradition had the Holy Waist as dowry from his bride.

On the main altar it is possible to admire a bronzy Crucifix made in 1653 by Ferdinando Tacca.

Very interesting are also the other chapels placed along the left side: the first one has fine frescoes painted by Agnolo Gaddi (1345-1396) dating back to the XV-th century and portraying some "Saint Giacomo's Stories" and "Saint Margherita d'Antiochia's Stories"; inside the second one is placed the "Sepulchre of Filippo Inghirami" made by Benedetto da Maiano (1442-1497).

Also the other chapels placed along the right side, the Assumption Chapel and the Crucifix Chapel, are rich of frescoes portraying Biblical pictures: inside the first one it is possible to admire a cycle of fifteenth-century frescoes painted by Paolo Uccello (1397-1475) and Andrea Giusto.

Among the other numerous art works that make the Cathedral precious we remind here a fine statue portraying an "Our Lady with the Child" by Giovanni Pisano (1250-1314) and a pulpit, as a chalice in shape, with the base hold by Sphinxes.