The Medieval Cassero, originally known as the ‘corridore del Cassero’ or ‘Cassero Corridor’, meaning Corridor of the Castle, was built according to the wishes of the Florentines following the conquest of Prato City Council, in order to connect the small fortress, built near Porta Fiorentina, with the eastern doorway of the Emperor’s Castle, where the garrison was based.
The covered corridor, which originally measured roughly 230 metres in length, served the double purpose of protecting the garrison from external attacks and potential local revolts from the only recently subjugated people of Prato.
In 1878 it was purchased by Prato City Council who sold a first section to private purchasers and demolished the covered bridge above via di Calimàla in order to make space for the Prato to Florence tramway. A second section was demolished around 1926 to make way for the construction of Viale Piave.
Having been recently reopened to the public, the internal Càssero corridor, with its barrel vault and lit by a long row of alternating lunette and small rectangular windows, has also become a venue for interesting exhibitions.
The Medieval Cassero, originally known as the ‘corridore del Cassero’ or ‘Cassero Corridor’, meaning Corridor of the Castle, was built according to the wishes of the Florentines following the conquest of Prato City Council, in order to connect the small fortress, built near Porta Fiorentina, with the eastern doorway of the Emperor’s Castle, where the garrison was based.
The covered corridor, which originally measured roughly 230 metres in length, served the double purpose of protecting the garrison from external attacks and potential local revolts from the only recently subjugated people of Prato.
In 1878 it was purchased by Prato City Council who sold a first section to private purchasers and demolished the covered bridge above via di Calimàla in order to make space for the Prato to Florence tramway. A second section was demolished around 1926 to make way for the construction of Viale Piave.
Having been recently reopened to the public, the internal Càssero corridor, with its barrel vault and lit by a long row of alternating lunette and small rectangular windows, has also become a venue for interesting exhibitions.