Tuscany Review
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        • Prata
      • Vineyard Towns of Tuscany >
        • Greve in Chianti
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      • Castiglioncello
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      • Cala del Leone
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      • Campese Beach
      • Spiagge Bianche
      • Le Rocchette
      • Ansedonia
    • Religious Sites of Tuscany >
      • Abbey of Sant'Antimo
      • La Verna
      • Abbey of San Galgano
      • Vallombrosa Abbey
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      • San Vivaldo
      • Certosa di Pontignano
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      • Elba
      • Giglio
      • Capraia
      • Pianosa
      • Giannutri
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      • Gorgona
    • Parks & Nature Reserves of Tuscany >
      • Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
      • Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona & Campigna National Park
      • Migliarino San Rossore Nature Park
      • Parco di Pratolino
      • Calafuria Nature Reserve
    • Landmarks of Tuscany >
      • Ponte della Maddalena
      • Lake Bilancino
      • Lake Santa Luce
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      • Saturnia
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      • Val d'Orcia
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MASSA

Massa


The city of Massa is the capital city of the Province of Massa & Carrara with a population of 68,889 inhabitants.

Standing at an elevation of 65 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 94 km² and lies 110 kilometres north west of Florence, the regional capital of Tuscany.

Massa is split into two distinct areas, separated by eight kilometres: the main area of the city lies inland in a slight elevated position while Marina di Massa is a seaside beach resort.
Sights in Massa include the main square called Piazza Aranci - a square lined with orange trees and flanked by the Palazzo Ducale. Just around the corner from the Piazza lies Massa Cathedral while looming on a hill overlooking the city is the 12th century castle: Castello Malaspina. 

​Massa's train station is called Massa Centro and it lies 2 kilometres from Piazza Aranci, a 20 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride (routes L60 or L61), followed by a 5 minute walk. Trains run south from Massa to Florence with a journey time of an hour and 54 minutes, stopping along the way at the seaside resorts of Forte dei Marmi (6 minutes), Pietrasanta (10 minutes) and Viareggio (19 minutes) followed by the city of Pisa (40 minutes) along the way. There are also faster connections available to Florence by changing in Pisa to take a faster train. Heading north, it's just a 6 minute train ride to Carrara, the train eventually continuing to the Ligurian port town of La Spezia (30 minutes).

​​By car from Massa to Florence takes 1 hour 33 minutes (122 km), while the journey times and distances to the other provincial capitals of Tuscany are as follows: Pisa - 43  mins (50 km), Lucca - 44  mins (50 km), Livorno - 49 mins (68 km), Pistoia - 1 hour  (88 km), Prato - 1 hour 16 mins (103 km), Grosseto - 1 hour 57 mins (199 km), Siena - 2 hours 6 minutes (186 km) and Arezzo - 2 hours 11 mins (195 km).

The most convenient airport for Massa is Pisa Airport which is a 36 minute drive away (55 km), while Tuscany's other major airport, Florence Airport, is the next best option at an hour and 15 minutes away (114 km). 

Places to visit close to Massa include the seaside resorts of the Versilia Coast mentioned above, while heading inland there's the town of Carrara, famous for its marble production. Heading north it's only a short distance to the neighbouring region of Liguria with the town of Sarzana a particular highlight. Beyond Sarzana and further into Luguria lie some of the best seaside towns in Italy including Lerici, Portovenere and the five villages of the Cinque Terre.
​
​​
Accommodation options in and around Massa currently include 2 hotels, 19 private apartments and 2 bed & breakfasts. See the link further down to our Hotels page where you'll find live availability and prices. 

Category: Cities of Tuscany

Administrative area: Capital of Massa & Carrara Province

Population: 68,889

Highlights: Piazza Aranci, Palazzo Ducale, Cathedral, Castle

Close by: Carrara, Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore, Viareggio

Recommended accommodation: Hotel Il Buongustaio
Public transport: Train station 2 km from centre, local buses
​
​By train: Forte dei Marmi - 6 minutes, Pietrasanta - 10 minutes
By car: Pisa - 43  mins (50 km), Lucca - 44  mins (50 km)
​
​
By air: Pisa Airport - 36 minutes by car (55 km)

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Tuscany Review is part of the Italy Review network of websites, aimed at making life easier for English-speaking people travelling throughout Italy.
For advice on other locations in Italy please visit my websites below:
Capri Island Review
Procida Review
Ischia Review
Veneto Review
Sorrento Review
Abruzzo Review
Amalfi Coast Review
Basilicata Review

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    • Scenic Towns of Tuscany >
      • Hill Towns of Tuscany >
        • San Gimignano
        • Pienza
        • Volterra
        • Montepulciano
        • Cortona
        • Montalcino
        • Monterchi
        • Monteriggioni
        • Massa Marittima
        • San Miniato
        • Fiesole
        • Roccatederighi
      • Seaside Towns in Tuscany >
        • Viareggio
        • Castiglione della Pescaia
        • Forte dei Marmi
        • Porto Santo Stefano
        • Porto Ercole
        • Orbetello
        • Rosignano Marittimo
        • San Vincenzo
        • Follonica
      • Orange Flag Towns of Tuscany >
        • Pitigliano
        • Chiusi
        • Santa Fiora Amiata
        • Casciana Terme
        • Lari
        • Sarteano
        • Certaldo
        • Castiglion Fiorentino
        • Trequanda
        • Radicofani
        • Peccioli
        • Casale Marittimo
        • Barberino Val d'Elsa
        • Cutigliano
        • Casole d'Elsa
      • Tuscany's Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia >
        • Giglio Castello
        • Sovana
        • San Casciano dei Bagni
        • Castiglione di Garfagnana
        • Coreglia Antelminelli
        • Lucignano
        • Poppi
        • Castelfranco Piandisco
        • Suvereto
        • Buonconvento
        • Montescudaio
        • Scarperia
        • Anghiari
        • Montemerano
        • Barga
        • Loro Ciuffenna
      • Historic Towns of Tuscany >
        • Vinci
        • Pietrasanta
        • Colle di Val d'Elsa
        • Pontremoli
        • Asciano
        • Sorano
        • Bagni di Lucca
        • Reggello
        • Chianciano Terme
        • Sansepolcro
        • Pomarance
        • Borgo San Lorenzo
        • Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
        • San Quirico d'Orcia
      • Pretty Villages of Tuscany >
        • Lajatico
        • Borgo a Mozzano
        • Ponzanello
        • Panzano in Chianti
        • Castiglione d'Orcia
        • Mammiano
        • Montemassi
        • Prata
      • Vineyard Towns of Tuscany >
        • Greve in Chianti
        • Bolgheri
        • Radda in Chianti
        • Carmignano
    • Beach Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Castiglioncello
      • Lido di Camaiore
      • Marina di Cecina
      • Marina di Pietrasanta
      • Marina di Pisa
      • Talamone
      • Marina di Bibbona
      • Baratti
      • Punta Ala
      • Marina di Massa
      • Tirrenia
      • Quercianella
      • Marina di Carrara
    • Beaches of Tuscany >
      • Cala delle Caldane Beach
      • Cala delle Cannelle Beach
      • Cala Spalmatoio
      • Cala del Leone
      • Arenella Beach
      • Campese Beach
      • Spiagge Bianche
      • Le Rocchette
      • Ansedonia
    • Religious Sites of Tuscany >
      • Abbey of Sant'Antimo
      • La Verna
      • Abbey of San Galgano
      • Vallombrosa Abbey
      • Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
      • San Vivaldo
      • Certosa di Pontignano
    • The Tuscan Archipelago (Arcipelago Toscano) >
      • Elba
      • Giglio
      • Capraia
      • Pianosa
      • Giannutri
      • Montecristo
      • Gorgona
    • Parks & Nature Reserves of Tuscany >
      • Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
      • Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona & Campigna National Park
      • Migliarino San Rossore Nature Park
      • Parco di Pratolino
      • Calafuria Nature Reserve
    • Landmarks of Tuscany >
      • Ponte della Maddalena
      • Lake Bilancino
      • Lake Santa Luce
      • Monte Amiata
    • Natural Spas of Tuscany >
      • Saturnia
      • Bagno Vignoni
      • Bagni San Filippo
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tuscany >
      • Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany >
        • Medici Villa La Ferdinanda - Artimino
        • Medici Villa Poggio a Caiano
    • Ski Resorts of Tuscany >
      • Abetone
  • Travel
    • Tuscany Airports >
      • Pisa Airport
      • Florence Airport
    • Sea Ports of Tuscany >
      • Piombino
      • Giglio Porto
  • Tuscany Hotels
  • Tuscany
    • Provinces of Tuscany >
      • Metropolitan City of Florence
      • Arezzo Province
      • Grosseto Province
      • Livorno Province
      • Lucca Province
      • Massa & Carrara Province
      • Pisa Province
      • Pistoia Province
      • Prato Province
      • Siena Province
    • Mountain & Valley Regions of Tuscany >
      • Val d'Orcia
      • Chianti
      • Maremma
      • Casentino
      • Garfagnana
      • Mugello
      • Alpi Apuane Regional Park
      • Val d'Elsa
      • Monte Argentario
      • Crete Senesi
      • Monti dell'Uccellina
      • Val di Cecina
      • Valdichiana
    • Versilia