Prato!

Today Megan and I went to Prato for 5 euro's round trip.
Its a small city about 20 minutes out of Florence and it has a really cool textile museum and is apprently like the wool manufacturing capitol of the world. We went kind of last second-origonally we had wanted to go to Verona to see Juliet's wall but its a 4 hour train ride and literally that is all there is to see there. Since we were swamped with a HUGE midterm project this week, we didn't make it to the travel agent so Prato was decided last night over 4 euro margaritas (did I mention the midterm project due this week? The week after break and the week that one of our professors completely rearrange one day to take up our free period to take us on a cite visit AND have class.)
So. Prato. There was a textile museum that my fashionista friend was interested in, and I just wanted to get out of the city for a couple hours and see something new so we hopped on an early train and went to Prato.
Literally the second the train got into Prato, it started to rain. I'm not kidding. It was like a bad joke especially since Megan hadn't brought her umbrella.
We took refuge in a bookstore until the rain let up a bit but we were not about to let a little water and some fog ruien out day. We went and saw Prato's duomo, and their cathedral (on the outside), stumbled across a couple markets, a castle and toured the textile museum. We did all this with out a map (because we kept trying to walk to the tourist office, we just never found it despite the fact all the signs said we were going in the right direction.) At the end of the day, Prato is small, and easy to navigate so we didn't get lost, which is quiet an accomplishment for the two of us.
The textile museum was pretty cool. Its super modern and sheek (and either brand new or newly renovated. As a museum studies minor, I'm a snob about museums who notices things like interactive exhibits and the more modern ways of displaying things.) The museum had textiles dating back to the 15th century which was absolutely mindblowingly impressive, but alas, I could not take pictures. (and there were museum people everwhere and like no patrons, so they just followed Megan and I around, so I couldn't even sneaky sneak a picture or two.)
The rain did let up by mid morning so we got some shots of the city. Another pretty day trip to add to your list :)