Massa, Provincial capital in northern Tuscany, Italy.
Massa is a town in the Province of Massa-Carrara in northern Tuscany. Buildings spread from the lower hills to the plains near the coast, forming neighborhoods at different elevations.
The settlement grew during Roman times along trade routes between the inland and the coast. The castle was expanded in the medieval period as ruling families solidified their control over marble extraction.
The fortress chapel on the hilltop continues to hold occasional religious services attended by local families who have maintained this practice for generations. Nearby residents sometimes refer to the square as the meeting point because it connects several walking paths used daily by those living in older quarters.
The old center sits on a hill and requires some uphill walking on narrow streets. Those who prefer flatter areas can stay along the coastal neighborhoods, where paths are wider.
The stone types in the surrounding mountains show different color tones, from white veins to gray layers. Quarries visible from town have remained active for centuries, slowly changing the mountain silhouette.
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