| The first city guide of Prato
is the one written in 1594 by Giovanni Miniati, Knight
of Saint Steven; dedicated to "Serenissimo don Ferdinando
de Medici, Gran Duca III di Toscana". This guide (an
account and illustration of the Territory of Prato,
published in Florence in 1596) does not have any artistic
or literature value, but is very important because it
shows us many aspects of the city during the 16th century
and the habits of the Pratesi of those years. Miniati
shows us all the love he had for his city and often
tells us about local events; he is proud, when he mentions
Prato as one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany.
To maintain this he refers to other writers: Fra Leandro
Alberti Bolognese (who talks about Prato in his Description
of Italy, reprinted in Venice in 1581), Faccio degli
Uberti ("Dittamondo"), Pandolfo Calenuccio (first book
of the Stories of the Reign), and Father Giacopo da
Varagine. Miniati seems to be so in love with his city
that he carefully mentions all the writers who sang
its praises. Miniati mentions the plundering of Prato
by the Spanish, under the command of Ramon de Cardona,
in 1512. About Prato's origins he tells fanciful and
poetic stories: the city was built along a genteel river
and was called "Bizzentia"; it was the most beautiful
and fertile city known, until it was plundered by Silla's
soldiers. The citizens decided, then, to rebuilt the
city in another place: a grassy plain along the same
river "Bisenzio". This time the city was called Prato
(which means meadow). Miniati then talks about the militia
of the city, that was under the command of Pompilio
Sanese of the noble Petrucci family. Then he tells us
about the flood in 1575, that caused the death of around
thirty men and women. Then the guide describes the monuments,
the convents (numerous in 16th century), the streets,
and the squares. He compares Piazza Mercatale with two
great and famous squares: Piazza Navona, in Rome; and
Piazza Santa Croce, in Florence. Then he mentions the
famous people of the city, the benefactors, the magistrates,
the laws, the hospitals, and the habits of the citizens.
Amongst much of the information and curiosity, we enjoyed
the description of the games and hobbies of the Pratesi.
On the 6th of July, as a reminder of the miracle of
the Madonna delle Carceri (of the Jails), a "Palio"
was organised. The horses had to run from Piazza Saint
Francesco across all the city; the route was so dangerous,
that it was the luckier horse and jockey, not the more
skilful, that used to win. In the Cathedral Square once
a year it was organised a match of "calcio in Costume"
(the football players had to be dressed as the ancients
dressed). Other hobbies were to fight with sticks or
stones ("sassaiola")! In Saint Agostino Square was practised
the game of the cat. The object of the game was to kill
a cat with the use of the shaved head of the player.
A cat was hung to a stake by two nails, and the players,
with their hands behind their back had to run to the
cat and hit it with their head. |
The
City | Famous
People | Giovanni Miniati
and the first city guide of Prato
