The Village of Prata in Maremma
Prata is a medieval village located on one of the Tuscan Metalliferous Hills. It is located at 625 meters above sea level and only 30 minutes away from the beaches of Follonica. A small village immersed in the greenery and tranquility of the classic inland Tuscan landscape. From the old walls of this medieval castle, still particularly evident, a breathtaking view opens up over the valley as far as the sea of the Gulf of Follonica. From Prata, thanks to its dominant position, you can see many places in the Tuscan Maremma. Among these, the summit of Monte Amiata, the city of Massa Marittima, the island of Elba, that of Montecristo and in the distance also the island of Corsica stand out.
Tourist Attractions
the “Palace”
historical building where Pia dei Malavolti lived for a period. Pia that a growing number of scholars identifies in the one cited by Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy (tutti i dettagli nel nostro articolo sulla Pia di Dante);
the “Customs Cistern”
characteristic cistern for collecting water in antiquity. It is located next to a historic and well-preserved stone arch, from which the castle was accessed. It’s possible to set an appointment to visit the interiors.
the “Historical Orchard”
where rare native plants otherwise endangered are conserved by a group of volunteers;;
Churches
The main one is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and is located near the old castle, where the lord of the place, a certain Tollo da Prata, resided in the Middle Ages. This church was built between 1795 and 1797, to replace a smaller church, which had become insufficient due to the increased population of the town.
The now deconsecrated one of the “Madonna del Canale” has great importance for the inhabitants of Prata. It is located near the historic Fonte Vecchia of the town and where every 3 years the depiction of the Madonna del Canale that was found here is brought back in solemn procession.
The one called “Del piano”, a small country church which is said to have been built by the express will of a lady belonging to a wealthy family of Siena after her horse knelt down twice in that exact spot, both on the outward journey towards Prata, and on the return journey towards Siena.
Services
It is important to know that in the town there is a restaurant/pizzeria/bar, a bakery, grocery stores, a hairdresser, a butcher, a pharmacy, a doctor, a library, a small theater and all basic necessities.
That said, with good wine, genuine food, mushrooms and chestnuts (all local products), you are sure that you can spend excellent time in Prata at any time of the year.
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