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Historical Buildings Outside Massa, Tuscany

Castello Malaspina
Well preserved, the Castle shows the development of the military architecture. A primitive fortress fated tenth-eleventh century, was enlarged during the fifteenth century, becoming a renaissance building decorated with marble at the windows and polychrome figures on the walls. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was fenced with rampants for defending from attacks. From the walls it is possible to see the city, the Apuan Alps and the sea. Info: Tel. 0585 44774

Museo Etnologico delle Apuane
Situated in the Santuario degli Oliveti, it originally consisted of a collection of Lunigiana material related to the agricultural-pastoral use. The museum, which developed over the years, today contains over ten thousand pieces related to the life and folk of Lunigiana, Garfagnana and Versilia. Its position in the heart of the Apuan Industrial Zone has led it to collect many pieces relevant to industrial archaeology.
Info: via Uliveti, 85; loc. Madonna degli Uliveti, Massa. Visits must be booked in advance for groups and schools. Closed Monday. Tel. e fax 0585 251330.

Chiesa di S. Leonardo al Frigido
This church is all that remains of an ancient settlement which probably stood on the site of a Roman Mansio serving those who travelled the Via Aemilia Scauri after passing the River Frigido in the direction of Luni. In the Middle Age the sacred building, in Romanesque Style, was also annexed to a “spedale”, in other words a hospice for travellers. It was completely restructurated in the 1950’s and consists of a single environment, with a choir resting on a semicircular structure, perhaps the base of the old apse. The original portal by Biduino was removed, probably in the post-war period, and is today on show at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Info: tel. 0585 240140

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