Palace of Praetors (Palazzo Pretorio)

The Praetor Palace in Prato is considered one of the most beautiful public buildings in central Italy. It is located in the city center, on the piazza del Comune, about 210 m southwest of Cathedral Square.

The Praetor Palace acquired its present appearance in the 13th-14th centuries. Previously, on the site of the palace stood three buildings, which were combined into a single complex of the palace. The palace housed a magistracy, city administration, prisons. The buildings included in the structure of the palace were built of different materials, their parts are easy to identify. The oldest part of the palace is on the right. It includes a 13th century tower house.

In 1912, after restoration work, the city museum was opened in the Praetor Palace, which collected works of art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Among the pearls of the museum collection are the works of Lorenzo Monaco, Giovanni di Milano, Fra Filippo Lippi, Filipino Lippi.