Massa

Sister cities

• Nowy Sącz
• Bad Kissingen
• Vernon

History

Massa is mentioned for the first time in the Tabula Peutingeriana, a 2nd-4th century AD itinerary, with the name ad Tabernas frigidas, referring perhaps to a stage on the Via Aemilia Scauri consular road from Pisa to Luni. From the 15th to the 19th century, Massa was the capital of the independent Principate (later Duchy) of 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 them and determine the extent of various mine owners' properties. In 1829 the states were inherited by Francis IV, Duke of Modena. In 1859, during the unification of Italy process, it joined the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Geography

Located in south of the province, near the borders with the Province of Lucca, Massa is a coastal town by the Tyrrhenian Sea. The municipality borders with Carrara, Fivizzano, Minucciano (LU), Montignoso, Seravezza (LU), Stazzema (LU) and Vagli Sotto (LU). Massa counts several hamlets (frazioni): Altagnana, Alteta, Antona, Baita, Bargana, Bergiola, Bondano, Borgo del Ponte, Bozzone, Ca' di Cecco, Caglieglia, Campareccia, Canevara, Capaccola, Casania, , Casone, Castagnara, Castagnetola, Castagnola, Cervara, Cinque Vie, Ciremea, Codupino, Cupido, Forno, La Gioconda, Gotara, Gronda, Grondini, Guadine, Le Iare, Lavacchio, Marina di Massa, Mirteto, Monte Pepe, Ortola, Pariana, Partaccia, Pian della Fioba, Poggi, Poggiolo, Poggioletto, il Ponte, Poveromo, Poveromo Macchie, Pratta, Puliche, Quercioli, Redicesi, Remola, Resceto, Ricortola, Rinchiostra, Rocca, Romagnano, Ronchi, San Carlo Terme, San Cristoforo, San Leonardo, San Lorenzo, Santa Lucia, Il Santo, Sei ponti, Turano, Vergheto, Le Villette, Volpigliano, Zecca.

Most-observed species

• Yellow-legged Gull

  Larus michahellis J.F.Naumann, 1840 · Aves
  298
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  296
• Japanese Cheesewood

  Pittosporum tobira (Murray) Aiton fil. · Magnoliopsida
  265
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  223
• Great Cormorant/European Shag

  Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  220
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  213
• Italian Sparrow

  Passer italiae (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  184
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  177

Most recent

• M 4.2 — 2026-03-26
  6 km NNW of Montale, Italy
• M 4.1 — 2026-03-25
  1 km S of Santo Stefano di Magra, Italy
• M 2.5 — 2025-03-04
  2 km NNW of Carrara, Italy
• M 3 — 2024-05-22
  1 km N of Collecchio, Italy
• M 4.1 — 2024-02-17
  3 km SE of Basilicanova, Italy
• M 4.2 — 2024-02-09
  1 km ENE of Pilastro, Italy