Massa
5446471
221489624
2008-06-24T18:55:47Z
81.89.176.7
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox CityIT |
img_coa = Massa-Stemma.png|
official_name = Comune di Massa|
region = [[Tuscany]] |
province = [[Province of Massa-Carrara|Massa-Carrara]] (MS) |
elevation_m = 65|
area_total_km2 = 94|
population_as_of = |
population_total = 66097|
population_density_km2 = 703|
timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]], [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+1 |
coordinates = {{coor dm|44|02|N|10|08|E}}|
frazioni = |
telephone = 0585|
postalcode = 54100|
gentilic = Massesi|
saint = St. [[Francis of Assisi]] |
day = [[October 4]] |
name=Massa|
mapx=44.05|mapy=10.163333|
mayor = Fabrizio Neri (since May [[2003]])|
website = [http://www.comune.massa.ms.it www.comune.massa.ms.it] |
}}
'''Massa''' is a town and comune in [[Tuscany]], [[Italy]], the administrative centre of the [[province of Massa-Carrara]].
Located in the northern part of the [[Tuscany]] region, where sea and land naturally join in a wonderful and unique contrast, Massa has a population of approximately 69,000 people, distributed in five boroughs.
The Massa area is of high touristic value and also hosts a concentration of some 600 industrial and craft activities, located within the so-called Apuan Industrial Zone, with a direct employment of more than 7,000 people. Together with the twin town of [[Carrara]], Massa is worldwide known for the extraction and production of [[marble]].
==History==
From the 15th to the 19th century, Massa was the capital of the independent Principate (later Duchy) of [[Duchy of Massa and Carrara|Massa and Carrara]], ruled by the [[Malaspina]] and [[Cybo-Malaspina]] families. Massa is the first recorded town in Europe in which the magnetic needle [[compass]] was used in mines to map the mines and determine the extent of various mine owners' properties.
In [[1829]] the city was handed over to Austrian branch of the [[Este family]]. In [[1859]], during the [[unification of Italy]] process, it joined the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]]
==Main sights==
Massa's attractions include:
*The Malaspina Castle (10th century)
*The Renaissance Ducal Palace, on the Piazza Aranci
*The Cathedral
*Piazza degli Aranci
*Piazza Mercurio
*Marina di Massa.
The [[Orto Botanico delle Alpi Apuane "Pietro Pellegrini"]] is a mountain [[botanical garden]] maintained by the city.
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{{Province of Massa-Carrara}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Tuscany]]
[[category:Cathedrals in Italy]]
[[category:Castles in Italy]]
{{Tuscany-geo-stub}}
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