Discovering Prato’s industrial textile archeology on foot
An itinerary to discover the many faces of the Bisenzio River, which has always played a key role in the development of Prato’s textile industry.
The first mills and factories to use water power were located on its precious banks. With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, the city's textile district expanded considerably and many of the industrial sites, now considered notable examples of archeology, can still be found along this route, which takes about an hour to walk along.
The walk starts from a symbol of history and industriousness: the Cavalciotto in Santa Lucia, a true jewel, thousands of years old, that initiated the Prato textile tradition. It was very important for the city's hydraulic system and was originally designed to reclaim the marshy plain.
The main function of the Cavalciotto was to divert the natural course of the river, thus creating the legendary Gorone, the largest and most important millpond in Prato.
The name Cavalciotto may come from the Italian “a cavallo”, meaning its location on either side of a bend in the Bisenzio River.
The walk starts from a symbol of history and industriousness: the Cavalciotto in Santa Lucia, a true jewel, thousands of years old, that initiated the Prato textile tradition. It was very important for the city's hydraulic system and was originally designed to reclaim the marshy plain.
The main function of the Cavalciotto was to divert the natural course of the river, thus creating the legendary Gorone, the largest and most important millpond in Prato.
The name Cavalciotto may come from the Italian “a cavallo”, meaning its location on either side of a bend in the Bisenzio River.
Continuing on, we come to the Mulino degli Abatoni (Abatoni Mill) and the Gualchiera di Coiano (Coiano Fulling Mill), another example of industrial archeology.
The Gualchiera, an ancient mill of medieval origin, still has the original hydraulic structures such as the millpond, millrace and inlets and shows the entire production cycle.
The machinery at the Gualchiera mill was driven by two water turbines, powered by the current of the river, thanks to a complex water channeling system involving the millpond and the Cavalciotto.
It was here that the textile carding tradition emerged and later became one of excellence in Prato.
Continuing on, we come to the Mulino degli Abatoni (Abatoni Mill) and the Gualchiera di Coiano (Coiano Fulling Mill), another example of industrial archeology.
The Gualchiera, an ancient mill of medieval origin, still has the original hydraulic structures such as the millpond, millrace and inlets and shows the entire production cycle.
The machinery at the Gualchiera mill was driven by two water turbines, powered by the current of the river, thanks to a complex water channeling system involving the millpond and the Cavalciotto.
It was here that the textile carding tradition emerged and later became one of excellence in Prato.
The route carries on to the ex Fabbricone (Former Factory), now home to Lanificio Balli (Balli Wool Mill) and the Teatro Fabbricone, one of the city's leading theaters.
The complex was - and still is - surrounded by a high boundary wall, giving it the appearance of a town. When it was built, it was so large that it was affectionately called the Fabbricone, meaning large factory.
The first theatrical performance inside the Fabbricone, dating back to 1974, was “Oresteia” directed by Luca Ronconi.
The route carries on to the ex Fabbricone (Former Factory), now home to Lanificio Balli (Balli Wool Mill) and the Teatro Fabbricone, one of the city's leading theaters.
The complex was - and still is - surrounded by a high boundary wall, giving it the appearance of a town. When it was built, it was so large that it was affectionately called the Fabbricone, meaning large factory.
The first theatrical performance inside the Fabbricone, dating back to 1974, was “Oresteia” directed by Luca Ronconi.
The itinerary ends along Viale Galilei, where the imposing former Lanificio Calamai wool mill stands. It is one of the largest textile factories in the area and an icon of Prato's industrial architecture: it once contained offices and homes and is now used as a student residence.
On one side of the former factory there is a mural by the artist DEM, in a timeless dialog with the architectural complex.
The itinerary ends along Viale Galilei, where the imposing former Lanificio Calamai wool mill stands. It is one of the largest textile factories in the area and an icon of Prato's industrial architecture: it once contained offices and homes and is now used as a student residence.
On one side of the former factory there is a mural by the artist DEM, in a timeless dialog with the architectural complex.
