The Province of Massa Carrara, Tuscany
The Province of Massa Carrara is situated in the northernmost part of Tuscany, in the centre of wonderful places such as the Golfo dei Poeti, the “Cinque Terre” and tuscan art cities.
Here, nature has created a perfect harmony between the land and the sea. The Apuan Alps, famous marble mountains, overlook the sea breaking on the sandy beach, which extends for kilometres.
The excellent geographical position and the exceptional variety of the territory make this part of Tuscany a place in paradise for the tourist.
The Lunigiana is the northernmost part of the province and it stretches beyond the Apuan Alps. This small plot of land – one among the richest of history and tradition – takes its name from Luni, an important centre during the Roman Age.
Following the river Magra, crossing the medieval itineraries of the Via Francigena, it is possible to find the well-preserved signs of an ancient and evolved civilization.
The Apuan Alps, a magnificent mountain chain which reminds, with its peaks and slopes, the morphology of the Alps in northern Italy.
Incredible mountains, which always, after long walks through the paths and the fields, finishes with a fantastic view of the sea.
But the province is not only mountains and sea, here the tourist will find a variety of landscapes, different in each season.
The many castles, that you will find during your trips, recall to the memory the battles made for the occupation of this small part of Tuscany, which was an independent Principality under the Cybo Malaspina family for many centuries, a noble dynasty which gave to Massa and Carrara an unique mark of renaissance and Baroque Art style.
The quiet Romanesque parishes in the plains and on the hills attract you with their medieval mysticism.
You admire their ancient stone structures, which saw many believers stopping there during their walk to the north, to France, to England, to Spain and to all the Faith places along the well known Via Francigena (called also Francesca o Romea), which, today, represent a Pilgrimage Road to destinations as Santiago de Compostela or Reims or Canterbury.
On this road, crossed by pilgrims, crowd and merchants in the past, were raised many villages, that today offer the opportunity to see many artworks, created by great masters from Lucca, Genua, Milan, Florence and from France.
Furthermore, our Province offers an uncontaminated atmosphere to be experienced at first hand.
The mild and sunny climate allows the tourists to enjoy the beaches in summer and also in winter.
From the Roman age, the sea of our Province represented a landing place for travellers and traders, who, from Lunigiana, exported the fine hill wine, one among the valuable product which is possible to taste in our territory.
Among the typical products, you will find the popular Lardo di Colonnata, but, during your stay, you can also taste many other delicacies such as: Testaroli with pesto sauce, Chestnut honey, Panigacci, Mushrooms, Focaccette of Aulla, Torte d’erbi (Herb Quiche), Olive bread, Chestnut bread and so on.
The ancient art of stone working, which has been active in the Ligurian-Apuan civilizations since the Roman age, when they were defeated by the Roman Army, at the beginning, was focused on the sandstone , the typical stone of the mysterious stele statues (stone idols dating back to 2000 years BC – t.n.).
But the real thing that attracted Romans as well as present day tourists, is a white and precious stone: the marble -the fascinating quarries, the art works produced from marble, as well as the beautiful landscape.
From www.aptmassacarrara.it
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