The external pulpit was specifically built to allow the public exhibition of the Sacra Cintola relic to the faithful gathered in the piazza.
Filippo Lippi, who painted the primary frescoes, was commissioned for the work by the city officials but famously took several years to complete them due to his turbulent personal life.
The cathedral is home to a unique 'Sacra Cintola' chapel, designed to protect the relic which is considered one of the city's most important treasures.
The distinct green and white marble exterior is a regional characteristic of Tuscan Gothic-Romanesque architecture.
Filippo Lippi's frescoes are considered one of the most important cycles of the Italian Renaissance, directly influencing later artists like Botticelli.
The Cattedrale di Santo Stefano in Prato is primarily renowned for housing the Sacra Cintola, a relic believed to be the girdle of the Virgin Mary. Its exterior is defined by a distinctive striped facade of green Prato marble and white alberese stone. The cathedral features an iconic outdoor pulpit designed by Donatello and Michelozzo, created specifically for the public display of the holy relic. Interior walls are adorned with significant Renaissance frescoes, most notably the cycle by Filippo Lippi depicting the lives of Saint Stephen and Saint John the Baptist. The chapel of the Holy Girdle serves as the primary spiritual anchor of the structure. The current building stands on the site of a 10th-century parish church, with subsequent expansions occurring through the 14th and 15th centuries. The cathedral serves as the seat of the Diocese of Prato.
From the center of Piazza del Duomo looking towards the facade to capture the contrast between the green marble and the external pulpit.
Check for the public display schedule of the Holy Girdle, as it occurs only on specific religious feast days throughout the year.
Ensure you have loose change to operate the lighting systems that illuminate the frescoes inside the main chapel.
Take time to view the exterior pulpit closely to appreciate the bronze reliefs, which are high-quality replicas of the originals held inside.
Avoid entering during ongoing liturgical services, as tourism is discouraged in the main nave during mass.
Closed to visitors during mass and specific religious ceremonies; the chapel of the Holy Girdle has restricted access compared to the rest of the cathedral.
Shoulders and knees must be covered; hats should be removed upon entering; maintain silence as it is an active place of worship.
