Welcome to the evocative Piazza del Duomo, the beating heart of Prato. Here you can breathe the thousand-year history of Borgo al Cornio, the oldest nucleus of the city of Prato which today corresponds to that of the current Piazza del Duomo. This place has roots that date back to the 9th century, when a small village stood, probably of Lombard origin, and a parish church dedicated to Saint Stephen was there. Imagine the first wooden structures that, over time, transformed into magnificent stone buildings, testifying to the passion and commitment of our ancestors.

The square, large and articulated, developed as a function of the baptismal parish church which later became the Cathedral.

Since the 14th century, this vibrant square has been the scene of celebrations, markets and outdoor games. But there is an event that, then as now, has always fascinated the crowds: the display of the Sacred Girdle, the precious Marian relic that attracts devotees from everywhere.

The square is surrounded by splendid buildings, many of which date back to the fourteenth century. On the south side, stands the sumptuous Vestri Palace, built in the 19th century, in front of the imposing statue of Giuseppe Mazzoni, an illustrious nineteenth-century politician from Prato, a work created by the sculptor Alessandro Lazzerini in 1896, a true artistic jewel.

Next to the cathedral, you will find the Bishop's Palace, while in front of it stands the renovated Dragoni Palace, dating back to the eighteenth century. In the center of the square, the enchanting Pescatorello fountain will catch your eye, sculpted in 1863 by Emanuele Caroni and Ulisse Cambi. This 19th-century work of art is affectionately nicknamed the "Duck Fountain" due to the swans at its base. But it is the little fisherman sculpted by Ulisse Cambi that gives this marvel its real name. The young protagonist, crowning the fountain, evokes joy and naturalness, creating an affinity with the Bacchino fountain, where little Bacchus plays among the bunches of grapes.