Photo: Rolando Valdiserri - Prato, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Castle, 1240
Castello dell'Imperatore
Medieval castle in Prato, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Middle Ages, 1240
- Style
- Frederician architecture
- Architect
- Riccardo da Lentini
- Founder
- Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 43°52′44″ N, 11°05′55″ E
- Address
- Piazza Santa Maria Delle Carceri, 59100 Prato
About
The Castello dell'Imperatore is a medieval fortress located in Prato, Italy. It is a castle with crenellated walls and towers. The castle was built for the medieval emperor and King of Sicily Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, on top of a previous fortification of which two towers remain.
When Frederick II died building was stopped and the interior was never finished. The castle is open to the public and although some destruction took place during the fascist regime, reconstruction work has begun and is ongoing. It is possible to climb the stairs up to the top of the castle walls and walkways for a bird's eye view over the surrounding city of Prato.
It was built between 1237 and 1247 by Riccardo da Lentini.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Castello dell'Imperatore».
Timeline
- 1240Built
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Prato Porta al SerraglioTrain, nearest
600 m as the crow flies
Castello dell'ImperatorePiazza Santa Maria Delle Carceri, 59100 Prato
Aeroporto Firenze Amerigo Vespucci11.4 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore castles in Tuscany
Frequently asked questions
Where is Castello dell'Imperatore?
Castello dell'Imperatore is in Prato, in the province of Prato (Tuscany), Italy. Address: Piazza Santa Maria Delle Carceri, 59100 Prato. GPS coordinates: 43.87888, 11.09866.
Is Castello dell'Imperatore wheelchair accessible?
According to OpenStreetMap data, the site is wheelchair accessible.
How old is Castello dell'Imperatore?
Wikidata dates it to 1240.
What else is there to see near Castello dell'Imperatore?
Nearby you’ll find: Teatro Metastasio (100 m away), Palazzo della Pubblica Assistenza (200 m away), Palazzo Vai (200 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Prato, Castello dell'imperatore, da S-E — Rolando Valdiserri - Prato, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Castello dell'imperatore - Prato 01 — Sara Mannelli, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello dell'imperatore , veduta laterale — Angelo Sabanito P., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello dell'Imperatore (Prato) 01-edit — Mongolo1984, edited by MenkinAlRire, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello dell'Imperatore (Prato) 01 — Mongolo1984, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello dell'imperatore 2 — iltempe, CC BY 4.0
- Castello dell'Imperatore di notte — Massimilianogalardi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Castello dell'Imperatore portale laterale Prato — This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright…, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Castello dell'Imperatore Prato — Schizzofrenia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences