a town of the grand duchy of Tuscany, in a fertile plain near the foot of the Apennines, 11 miles N.W. of Florence. Containing well-built houses and regular streets, and surrounded by old walls and ditches, the appearance of the town is cheerful and pleasant. In the principal square stands the cathedral, with its campanile or bell-tower; and several other buildings. The most striking feature of the cathedral is the alternate stripes of black and green serpentine with which the grey limestone of this fine edifice is inlaid, both outside and inside. It contains a beautiful painted window, and some of the best pictures of Filippo Lippi. Among the other buildings of Prato are the church of La Madonna delle Carceri, with a beautiful cupola; the Palazzo Pretorio, now used as a prison; and a college that once belonged to the Jesuits. There are also a theatre, public library, and several hospitals. Coarse woollen cloth is made here in large quantities; also red Turkish caps, ropes, paper, glass, hardware, &c. From Prato London derives supplies of straw plait, which is made by the peasantry in the adjacent country. Pop. 12,000.