Shopping and mouth-watering events
For the occasion of the exhibition “The Style of the Tsar” the whole city and territory of Prato are promoting numerous initiatives to make their particular art, craft, wine and food specialities better known to their own citizens as well as to tourists.
- Card_a_Prato
- Especially for the exhibition a special Card had been produced which for a cost of only € 2 enables both citizens of Prato and tourists to benefit of a series of discounts and reduced prices on the cultural and commercial assets of the city (reduced tickets in the leading museums, 10% discount in shops, craft workshops, restaurants and coffee adhering to the project).
- Shopping in the Factory
- The “Shopping in the Factory” itinerary includes more than 45 local firms, ranging from direct sales of textiles to art and craft workshops. It has been designed for tourists who wish in this way not only to save money by buying at source, but also to learn about the local culture and traditions.
Events promoted by the Unione Commercianti di Prato:
Mouth-watering itineraries of the Tsar
- A pleasant wine-and-food tour will guide the visitor through the streets of the city centre to sample the specialities offered by the restaurants of Prato, served by waiters in costume with a background of ancient music. All participants will be presented with an attractive kitchen apron.
- The aperitif of the Tsar
- The bars in the city will be offering the aperitif of the Tsar, a combination of Tuscan and Russian flavours differing from bar to bar. It is up to the customer to find the flavours and ingredients he likes best!
- Vote for the Tsar’s shop window
- The shopkeepers of the “Centro Primavera” group are competing together for the “Tsar’s Cup”, to be won by the best shop window display. The judges will be the tourists themselves, who will vote using a special form which will also give them a chance of winning some welcome prizes.
- “Florarte” – special edition
- This now classic show in a special edition entirely based on textiles and on the main exhibition will take place in the picturesque location of Palazzo Vestri.
- Blending of flavours
- The grocers of the Unione Commercianti will be offering samplings of Prato and Russian products, in addition to theme tastings. Guided visits will be organized to the factories producing Mortadella di Prato and the bakeries making the famous Bozza di Prato.
Events promoted by the Confesercenti di Prato
European market – 24-27 September 2009
- Piazza Duomo will be transformed into a meeting place for more than 60 commercial operators from all European countries presenting their local and particular products.
- European Christmas market – 8-20 December 2009
- In the period before Christmas Piazza Duomo will be displaying the wares of craftsmen specialized in the art of the Christmas crib and other original articles concerned with Christmas, presented by dozens of operators from all over Italy and Europe.
- The Central Market in Piazza Mercatale – 27 September and 4 October 2009
- To mark the exhibition “The Style of the Tsar”, the historic Piazza Mercatale, where the city market was first held in 1262, will on two occasions be home to the stalls of the largest market in the whole of Tuscany.
- “Tuscany at Table”
- As a result of collaboration between the Associazioni del Commercio of Prato and the Regione Toscana visitors will be able to savour typical local dishes skillfully paired with wines produced in the territory. On the same days grocers’ shops will be offering discounts on local products. The initiative takes place on the 25th-27th September in Prato, the 9th-11th October in Val Bisenzio and the 27th-29th November in Montemurlo.
