Massa E Cozzile: Fortified Settlement and Routes

Massa lies at an elevation of about 223 metres on a hill. At this point, the Torrente Borra valley widens into a hollow that opens to the south. The settlement is fortified: walls surround it, towers guard it, and gates provide access. A fortress stands at its highest point. The topographical location and the fortified form of the settlement are therefore seen together.

Gates and the history of the settlement

Porta ai Campi is the southern entrance to Massa. Its present appearance probably dates from the early years of the 14th century. Porta Fontana is a medieval gate in the circuit of walls and has been preserved almost intact to this day. In comparison, Porta ai Campi is notable for its southern location and probable date, while Porta Fontana stands out for its almost intact state of preservation. The two gates thus illustrate different features of the fortifications.

Buildings and museum

The buildings can also be read as part of the settlement’s history. They developed along a steeply rising road in a herringbone pattern that is still recognisable today, connecting the parish church with the fortress. The term “herringbone pattern” makes the distinctive layout easier to understand: it refers to the arrangement of the buildings, which here connects these two structures. The walls and gates describe the fortifications; the pattern describes the development within them.

The Museo di San Michele consists of the Chapel of San Michele and two exhibition halls. The two halls originally belonged to the architectural complex of the Monastery of the Visitation. Together, the chapel and halls make up the museum; the halls’ former connection to the monastery provides their architectural context. The museum thus complements the gates and the layout of the settlement with another historical connection.

Routes and landscape

Two different routes are also described in relation to the landscape and paths. The Margine coperta – Massa route follows Via Vacchereccia along the ridge that slopes down from the settlement of Massa; along the way, it passes the old Pasquini and Armani villas. The Massa-Croci-Cozzile circular route is 5.3 km long and has an elevation gain of 200 m. For orientation, the routes can be distinguished by different details: the Margine coperta – Massa route is described by its course and the villas passed along the way, while the circular route is defined by its length and elevation gain. For the circular route, the two figures complement each other: 5.3 km is the length, and 200 m is the elevation gain.

The sanctuary on the Croci plateau

Near Massa, on the Croci plateau, stands the Santuario della Beata Vergine del Carmelo. It was founded in the early years of the 17th century on the site of a wayside shrine that housed a fresco of the patron saint. The story of its founding connects the sanctuary with this existing devotional image and adds another historical chapter to the medieval gates and the layout of the settlement.

Discover more destinations: Abetone, Monsummano Terme, Pistoia, Larciano, Campo Tizzoro, Pescia, Uzzano, Cecina

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