Nestled on a high and isolated hill, Massa Marittima’s beautiful historic city center is enclosed and protected by the well-preserved city walls, representing one of the most important urbanistic-architectural complexes in all of Tuscany. The narrow streets that criss-cross the hill lead to a magical place, where the harmony of its features welcomes visitors and leaves them to contemplate with wonder this amazing and timeless place.
This travertine building was the judiciaries headquarter. It consists in three independent buildings, each one built in a different period: the Biserno Tower on the left and the Bergello Tower on the right date back to the XIII century, while the central block was built in sienese-gothic style in the XIV century. The whole building has been renovated several times through history: both the arches at the ground floor and the battlements on the roof were made in the XIX century in romanesque-gothic style. On the façade you can see the Medici crest, who incorporated this territory in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1555. On the bottom left side there is a bas-relief representing a wolf, symbol of Siena.
The Mayor’s office was once a chapel “Cappella dei Priori”, richly painted in 1525 by Sodoma’s pupils it depicts the Genesis.
A sculpture entitled “Icaro” was donated by the polish artist Igor Mitoraj and it now stands in the building’s hall.
Period: Year-round
The building used to be the Convent of San Pietro all’Orto, in Cittanuova, next to Sant’Agostino Church. The museum hosts pieces of art such as sculptures, statues and paintings coming from the Cathedral in Piazza Garibaldi. Some of them are just copies, others are the original ones, moved to the museum to be better preserved or simply because they were replaced during the centuries.
The museum is organized in five different rooms, each one having its own theme. During your visit you will be able to see the “Maestà” by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, sculptures by Giovanni Pisano and the famous grey alabaster reliefs.
Period: Year-round
It was built up in the XIII century. The building used to be a Franciscan convent until the XIX century. What remains of the old convent is the church and part of the cloister but the original structure has been strongly altered over time due to renovation works.
After the XIX century it was then used as public kindergarten and eventually became the Public Library. Today, through many restoration works, the building has been brought back to its original form.
Period: Year-round
You can find this garden walking through via Norma Parenti, in the medieval neighbourhood called Borgo; a small lane named via Maremma leads to this enchanted place. The garden can be considered a piece of art itself, created by the artist Maria Dompè, who dedicated it to the partisan Norma Parenti.
It is a suggestive place where you can get an amazing view of the valley and the coast. The oval garden has spiral shaped decorations and a sound system and was built along the medieval walls, inside an archaeological area.
In the middle of the garden a metal time capsule was buried: it contains messages and desires of the young students of Massa Marittima who took part in the project together with the artist.
Period: Year-round
