History, the origins of Massa Carrara ...
The origins of mass undoubtedly go back to Roman times, when near the river rose Frigido the first human settlements. It seems that at that time acted as Massa place for those who transit via long Aemilia the Scauri that led to Pisa from Luni.
The Malaspina
The family, which for centuries ruled the duchy of Massa, has origins far. Orberto Orbizzo parent was I, although the first was called Malaspina was the son of Orberto, Alberto II. The name derives from an ancient legend that passed that his ancestor killed with a plug the king of the Franks Teodoberto that soprassalto of waking up during the attack, shouted: "Ah Mala Spina." I remember Malaspina are in fact for their temperament very cruel, but not limited to, you said they were also great patrons, art lovers and visitors courteous, as Dante in the Divine Comedy recalls.
The name of the city has undergone several changes over time, initially known as Mass Lunense, since depended on the bishop's seat of Luni, then changed its name to mass Marchese, she is precisely under the rule of the Marquis Malaspina. Once the domain of the Malaspina, Massa passed under the Genoese family of Cybea, which took its name, and then finally mutarlo Ducale in Massa, after its annexation to the Duchy of Modena.
Many were the domains where Massa was subjected over the years, especially contention by the Pisa and Lucca. In 1254 the castle town of Lucca who passed ruled almost continuously until the end of the thirteenth century.
Massa was in 1315 again governed by Pisani, under the Uguccione Faggiola, until the administration came under domination Lucca, with Castruccio Castracani, who tried to create a single worship in Lunigiana, though, while Massa and Carrara consolidates the power of the Malaspina, Lunigiana will increasingly small municipalities that will be controlled from Genoa, Lucca and Florence.
From 1342 until 1396 was still governed by Pisani, then returned again to Lucchesi.
Only in 1442, Alberico I Malaspina, Marquis of Fosdinovo, initiated the long domination family that ruled the marquisate for about a century.
In 1519 Alberico happened to her daughter Ricciarda that once convolata wedding with a noble Genoese Cybo Lorenzo, said union of family life Malaspina with the powerful Genovese family.
From this union naque a son, Alberico Cybo, which will prove decisive for the fate of the family, because thanks to his talents managed to give fame and glory to the city.
Alberico succeeded in a short time to make the city a major urban center and fully exploit one of the largest resources of the province, the marble.
Alberico died in 1623, at the age of 94 years and left the throne to her nephew Charles I, who ruled until 1662, after which the principality passed to his son Alberico II and then, in 1690, to Charles II.
After the death of the king, however, there were several domains in the city, although nobody was able to compete with that of Alberico, who had represented the true turning point for the city. The domination of the city then passes the hands of the Este family, after Mary Teresa Cybo married in 1741 Prince Ercole D'Este Reinaldos. He was a good news for Massa, a hospital founded in 1769 and instituted a Carrara Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1806 the district of Massa and Carrara was aggregated to the Principality of Lucca and you put Napoleon's sister Elisa Baciocchi, who made the Palazzo Ducale his summer residence. Under the government in Napoleon changed the attitude citizen, was the period when it was built the current Piazza Aranci.
With the plebiscite of 1859 Massa joined the Kingdom of Sardinia. These were years of construction of large public works, such as the railway line Parma-La Spezia
However it is with the unification of Italy that mass starts the actual period of expansion, both in terms of territory for trade, favored by geographical location and trade of marble. To all this must be added the importance that the city took down '800 onwards as prestigious center of bathing.
Marina di Massa quickly became one of the most crowded tourist centers and popular in Tuscany and still managed to maintain this leadership.
During the world wars, notably in the Second World War, Massa saw a great commitment and the conivolgimento civilian population, so that the fledgling Italian Republic will give the city the Gold Medal for Military Valor.
A Carrara a plaque on the facade of the plebiscite recalls the city for the republic referendum in 1946.