 CITIES |
 NEWSPAPERS
& MAGAZINES |
| LINKS
|
| USEFUL
SITES |
| TELEPHONE
BOOK |
| EDITORIAL
STAFF |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
Art
Cities >> MASSA
and CARRARA
|
SOME HISTORY....
Massa and Carrara are located in
a valley between the sea and the Alpi Apuane, which virtually
appear to be snow-capped due to the marble quarries. Massa,
the administrative centre of the province, is an important commercial
Cities, though it has preserved its medieval heart, dominated
by the fortress and important buildings from the 16th century
around the Piazza Aranci and the Palazzo Ducale. Contended by
both Lucca and Pisa, Massa was conquered by the Florentines
and the Visconti family. Massa experienced its most flourishing
period with Carrara under the Malaspina family. The Estensi
family took over during the 18th century, but Massa also experienced
a short period under Napoleon, as many other Italian Cities,
and then in 1859 it was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Carrara is the capital of the precious white marble. The marble
quarries were famous already during the Roman time and the main
commercial activity of Carrara is still the extraction, the
work and the marketing of marble. |
MASSA |
| CARRARA |
 |
 Each
year, thanks to the skill and the courage of the inhabitants,
the "lizzatura" that is the transportation of the
marble blocks by hand is commemorated. You are able to see the
working of the precious material in the workshops, in the Museo
del marmo and during the yearly festivals. Carrara's history
goes hand in hand with the history of Massa. Carrara was dominated
by the Malaspina family until 1860 when it became part of the
Kingdom of Sardinia. |
|
|
 |
|
