Massa facts for kids
Massa is a town in Tuscany, Italy. It is located in the northern part of the province of Massa-Carrara, close to the sea.
Where is Massa?
Massa is a town near the coast in Tuscany, Italy. About 69,000 people live there. The town is divided into five main areas.
What is Massa known for?
Massa is a popular place for tourists to visit. It is also famous for its many businesses, including about 600 industrial and craft companies. Around 7,000 people work in these businesses.
Massa and its nearby town, Carrara, are known worldwide for their marble. They extract and produce a lot of marble, which is used for buildings and sculptures.
A Look at Massa's History
From the 1400s to the 1800s, Massa was the capital of an independent state. This state was first called a Principate and later a Duchy. It was ruled by the powerful Malaspina and Cybo-Malaspina families.
In 1829, the city came under the control of the Austrian Este family. Later, in 1859, during the time when Italy was becoming a unified country, Massa joined the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Important Places to See
Massa has several interesting places to visit:
- The Malaspina Castle, which was built in the 1400s.
- The beautiful Renaissance Ducal Palace, located in Piazza Aranci.
- The main Cathedral of the city.
