Medieval cassero in Prato

Built in the mid-14th century, the medieval cassero in Prato is a fortified, two-level walkway that once connected the walls near Porta Fiorentina with the castle.

The cassero was a safe and silent way for Florentine troops to come in and out of the city without being seen by the local citizens. In the late 19th century, a large stretch of the cassero was knocked down to make viale Piave.

The restoration, which finished in 2000, allowed for two portions of the old structure to be recovered, creating a pedestrian path between via Pomeria to viale Piave, a stone’s throw from the Emperor's Castle.

The space often hosts contemporary art exhibitions.