Massa  Carrara

15km  from Versilia

 MASSA

One of the main monumets of Massa is the Ducal Palace, built in 1547 by order of Alberico the I Cybo in order to give a magnificent appearance to the city during the princely Italian Sixteenth century. Its beauty is undoubtedly emphasized by the famous hundred columns, a veritable marble triumph in all its magnitude. Tha facade rules the contrast among the white marble, the red cybeo and the splendid paints totally giving it armony and sumptuousness. The inner of this splendid palace framed these splendid masterpieces with a great artistic value of very famous masters such as Raffaello, Leonardo, Tiziano, Giorgione andf Guercino. As if that wasn't enough, here visitors can also find some artworks of the most famous marble masters and of some local workshops, such as the Charles the II's bay are still entire with allby the famous hundred columns, a veritable marble triumph in all its magnitude. Tha facade rules the contrast among the white marble, the red cybeo and the splendid paints totally giving it armony and sumptuousness.                         The inner of this splendid palace framed these splendid masterpieces with a great artistic value of very famous masters such as Raffaello, Leonardo, Tiziano, Giorgione andf Guercino. As if that wasn't enough, here visitors can also find some artworks of the most famous marble masters and of some local workshops, such as the Charles the II's bay are still entire with all

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 Sarzana fortezza  Firmafede

  Castello  Malaspina

The inner ward viewed fron the palace.

The castle was the seat of the marquises of Massa and was always closely related to the coast and the sea, due to its strategic position for fighting against the pirates. From the year 1164 we have records of the castle, when Emperor Frederick I allotted part of this to Obizzo Malaspina. About a century later, in 1268, Massa was occupied by the troops of Corradino of Svevia, who devastated the whole territory. One year later the castle was leveled to the ground by the army of the nearby city of Lucca that didn't tolerate the willingness of the Massa inhabitants to please the Emperor's troops.

Great part of the castle's history in the first centuries of the late Middle Age are obscure. When the marquises of Massa were ousted the Malaspina family took possession of the castle and conceded it to Castruccio Castracani, gentleman of Lucca, in the first years of 14th century. Until the first half of the 15th century Massa and its castle passed under the authority of the Lucchesi first, the Pisane then and of the Florentine for last. After this time Massa became fief of the marquises of the Malaspina family of Fosdinovo. Between 15th and 17th century the new owners underwent a series of drastic changes and the castle became their finest residence.