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. <BR> <BR> {{Province of Massa-Carrara}} [[Category:Cities and towns in Tuscany]] [[category:Cathedrals in Italy]] [[category:Castles in Italy]] {{Tuscany-geo-stub}} [[ar:ماسا]] [[ca:Massa (Toscana)]] [[cs:Massa]] [[co:Massa (Toscana)]] [[de:Massa (Toskana)]] [[et:Massa]] [[es:Massa]] [[eo:Massa]] [[fr:Massa (Italie)]] [[it:Massa (MS)]] [[zh:马萨]] [[la:Massa (urbs)]] [[nl:Massa (Italië)]] [[ja:マッサ]] [[nap:Massa (MS)]] [[no:Massa]] [[nn:Massa]] [[pms:Massa (MS)]] [[pl:Massa]] [[pt:Massa (Itália)]] [[ro:Massa]] [[simple:Massa]] [[sv:Massa (stad)]] [[uk:Масса]] [[vo:Massa]]