Tuscany is a region rich in local productions, and alongside the most famous and renowned ones there are many little-known products that are worth discovering or rediscovering.
In the province of Prato there are numerous trattorias, osterias and taverns where you can enjoy food and wine specialties. From Carmignano to Vaiano: each locality offers local wines and traditional dishes. They range from the classic pappa al pomodoro to pappardelle with duck to peposo, Mortadella di Prato IGP and zuccherini di Vernio: a true food and wine journey through the flavors of Prato.
In three days we will try to see as much as possible of this area in the province of Prato, so our journey starts early in the morning from the center of Carmignano.
We enter inside the Propositura dei Santi Michele e Francesco: if we are lucky we will be able to admire Pontormo's beautiful Visitation, a masterpiece of early Florentine Mannerism. The work is often on loan to international museums and institutions, so it is best to inquire before your trip.
Leaving the church, we immerse ourselves in the history of the Villa Medicea di Artimino, also called La Ferdinanda or Villa dei cento camini. The villa is definitely worth a visit. Built at the wish of Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici who had fallen in love with the Montalbano, it served as the family's summer residence. To indulge his passion for hunting, the great Barco reale was also created, a huge game reserve that precisely surrounded the villa.
After so much art and culture, we treat ourselves to a relaxing lunch of typical local products. Carmignano has plenty to spare! Dried figs are the pride of the local cuisine, a winter product that is mainly eaten at Christmas time.
The Carmignano area produces exquisite wines. We will taste the DOC Barco Reale and DOCG Carmignano, as well as the DOC Vinsanto Occhio di Pernice, to be paired with amaretti biscuits. Carmignano amaretti are another excellence not to be missed: they are amber-colored, almond-flavored sweets made following a recipe from the 19th century.
We end the day with a nice walk near the fortress of Carmignano to enjoy the view of the surrounding hills. In summer, the event Calici di Stelle is organized here, offering wine tastings and local specialties under the August sky.
Prato needs no introduction. We simply select a few attractions that have become the symbol of the city.
Prato is also considered an important reference point for contemporary art thanks to the Pecci Center. We head here for a visit among the most famous art installations and works in the field. In fact, the collection includes more than a thousand works, mainly sculptures, installations and environments, paintings and video works, created between the 1950s and the present day. Of particular note are works by various exponents of Poor Art and the Italian and international Transavantgarde, as well as artists from the former USSR and artist photography.
Prato, in terms of food and wine products, is no joke either. Mortadella di Prato IGP, for example, is quite different from the classic mortadella. Already from its color, a brighter pink, you can tell how special it is. In fact, its ingredients include alchermes, and its spicy aroma is unmistakable. Let's make a sandwich with bozza pratese, an ancient bread from the peasant tradition ideal for cooking soups and ribollita. In the mood for dessert? No problem. Let's move on to the historic center of Prato to enjoy the legendary Peaches in a pastry shop: two small amber hemispheres joined by custard and dipped in alchermes. Tip. We end our lunch break with a small glass of Prato's white Vermouth, documented in the city as early as the 18th century.
A stroll through the stores and boutiques of the center is mandatory. We will be amazed at the Duomo and the pulpit, built by Michelozzo and decorated by Donatello.
Let's interrupt our cultural excursion and engage in outdoor sports! All we need is a pair of hiking shoes, water and a desire for adventure. Let's embark on one of the possible itineraries within the Alto Carigiola and Monte delle Scalette Protected Natural Area, which extends between the municipalities of Cantagallo and Vernio. The area, crossed by the CAI trail network, is characterized by the presence of dense forests of deciduous oaks, black hornbeam, ash, chestnut and beech.
Let's recover from our exertions in some tavern in Vernio to taste its legendary tortelli with a filling of boiled potatoes and cheese, best served with meat sauce. But the real specialty of the area is the zuccherino di Vernio, an anise cookie. In the Bisenzio Valley they were prepared at wedding parties; in fact, the traditional donut shape is reminiscent of a wedding ring.
In the afternoon, after visiting Villa Buonamici in San Gaudenzio (the same villa where Galileo Galilei also frequently stayed) and Villa Mulinaccio in the Vaiano area, we treat ourselves to our last snack of Sassi della Calvana. This cookie is reminiscent of the shape and color variations of the stones of the Calvana Mountains.
