Host City   

The second largest city in Tuscany with a population of around 180,000, Prato is situated just
a short distance from Florence and other major art cities of the Tuscan region including Pistoia, Pisa, Lucca and Siena. Prato is a hidden gem that offers the tourist a wide array of historical and artistic attractions with a cultural itinerary that goes from Medieval times to contemporary art.

In the centre of the town, Prato offers a wealth of architectural heritage including the Emperor’s Castle built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (the only example of Swabian architecture in northern central Italy), the Cathedral with its revered relic of the Madonna’s sacred belt, Palazzo Pretorio, Datini’s house, the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri by Giuliano da Sangallo, the medieval churches of St Francis, St Dominic, St Augustine as well as a number of patrician palaces. These building and the city museums hold works of art by great masters such as Agnolo Gaddi, Paolo Uccello, Filippo and Filippino Lippi, Donatello, Michelozzo and other famous artists of the 14th century and Renaissance.

Conference venue

Monash University Centre in Prato. Palazzo Vaj, Via Pugliesi 26, Prato 59100 Italy
The Monash University Centre is located in the historic centre of Prato, a 20 minute trip from central Florence, and 15 minutes from the Florence international airport. The Monash Centre in Prato occupies the first floor and part of the ground floor of an 18th century palazzo, named Palazzo Vaj after the Vaj family who were the original owners.

Getting to the Monash University Prato Centre

Click on the link above for instructions on how to get to Prato and to The Monash University Prato Centre.

For more information about Prato, visit: