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Massa and Carrara

Massa and Carrara

Due to their extremely close location to one another, Massa and Carrara are classified as one single province. However they are still two completely different cities in terms of culture, activities and education. Carrara, has always been known for its refined marble, testimony to the city's Medieval background. Whereas, Massa, has been more influenced by the domination of Malaspina Family (who ruled the city between the 15th and 16th centuries) and also by the certain changes made to the city during the 19th century which still have a strong influence over numerous aspects of the city even today.

At the beginning of the 19th century Massa was under the control of Elisa Baciocchi, sister of Napoleone, who governed the city as the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. She had a huge influence over the city making many significant changes throughout her reign, namely to the structure of the city. In fact, the current structure of the city centre is thanks to her as she authorised the regeneration of some of the most important areas of the city (such as the Piazza degli Aranci, which was appointed as the focal point of all activity in the city by her).

The urban renewal of the city during the 19th century succeeded in reorganising and improving the old regions of the city. However, consequently there are now few traces of the city's original medieval structure. One of the only examples of the city's Medieval heritage is the imposing Rocca which the city's most prominent building which was constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries, the centre of which is very much Medieval in its style.

Carrara, on the other hand, has managed to conserve much more evidence of its own ancient background despite being in close proximity to Malaspina. For example, Via Santa Maria, which branches from the spacious piazza where the Academy of Beautiful Arts is located, is a great example of the city's success in maintaining its original Medieval structure.

The city's cathedral is very unique in that it consists of a combination of many different styles of architecture. Started in the 11th century and finished in the XIV, it has a façade which shows clear evidence of two different phases of construction: there's a part with a solid Romanesque base and one part that's very light, with fine thin columns and Gothic style arches.

The art of stone masonry has long been a traditional trade of this Tuscan province. Carrara in particular is famous all over the world for its white marble (whose origins date back to Etruscan times) which is derived from the many marble caves in the area. The trade generated through the commercial activity involving the marble has always been a source of great income to the city.

The province of Massa Carrara is located in North Western Tuscany sharing a border with Liguria (those who have heard Tuscan dialects, will notice the unique accent of the local inhabitants which consists of an unmistakable blend of Tuscan consonants and Ligurian vowels).

The two main towns of the province are located in the coastal area of the city, not far from the sea in the the hinterland of the province quite near to Lunigiana, a zone that stretches alongside the River Magra. Lunigiana is a rich area of many old settlements, located at the centre of an intense traffic flow which was busy even in the Medieval times as it passes through the busy Via Francigena which runs straight through the centre of the zone.

Via Francigena is a route that stretches right from Canterbury to Rome, a street which led many pilgrims to the holy city during numerous pilgrimages (a journey more often than not carried out on foot at a pace of 20-25km a day).

The fortunate location of this road meant that it quickly became a popular site of commercial activities such as trading and the deployment of military troops. Consequently, the area of Lunigiana also became a place of interest for the same reasons.

The settlements of this zone are not only characterised by their large parishes, created to host the many pilgrims passing through the area, but also by their surrounding walls and other defensive structures, which suggest that this region has not always been as peaceful as it appears today.

The main centre of Lunigiana is Pontremoli, a town dominated by Piagnaro Castle, a visit to which is not complete without going to the Museum of Figurines. The museum features collections of that was recovered in the area, testimony of an old and otherwise unknown civilisation. This material contains certain evidence which suggests that it dates back to various stages 6th century A.D., however some of it can even be dated back to the Iron Age. Some of the artefacts have been featured in the museum for some time whereas others have only been found more recently, often by accident (through the excavation work of peasants and labourers). The figurines have obelisk characteristics, mostly represented in the form of women and recount written rituals in a variety of alphabets but in a language that has Celtic origins.

Pienza 670 Weekly Price: Min. € 290,00 Max. € 910,00 Number of Beds: 11

Ponte Vecchio 375 Weekly Price: Min. € 915,00 Max. € 1.019,00 Number of Beds: 4

Chiusdino 945 Weekly Price: Min. € 440,00 Max. € 750,00 Number of Beds: 12

Montaione 952 Weekly Price: Min. € 550,00 Max. € 1.350,00 Number of Beds: 48