EN
ITMASSA: THE CRADLE OF GENIUS
Between marble peaks and the sea lies a proud land.
Did you know? The Piccirilli Brothers were born right here, in the Martana district (at via Beatrice 60). From this ancient village, they left for the United States after training in the heart of Carrara's technical tradition.
They chose Carrara Marble, from the very same quarries where Michelangelo sourced his David, understanding that marble was not just a material, but a legend. We owe them the mighty Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and dozens of masterpieces in New York, bringing Apuan mastery into the core of American identity and making the white marble of Carrara the eternal symbol of US democracy.
Return to where stone comes to life: walk through the alleys and discover the roots that unite two continents.
The Piccirilli Birthplace: Visit it and get lost in the alleys of the ancient district to breathe the air that inspired these great sculptors.
The Martana Air Raid Shelter: A thrilling journey into the city's underground to witness firsthand the history and resilience of the people of Massa.
The Resceto Trail and Via Vandelli: Retrace the ancient 18th-century "highway" that, climbing up the Apuan Alps, posed an unprecedented engineering challenge.
Local Food and Wine: Taste traditional dishes, from Tordelli massesi to Candia wine from the Apuan hills, flavors that, for those returning, represent the true "sense of place...
Excerpt from tracingITALIANroots©.
