Massa Marittima

Massa Marittima is situated on the top of a hill and is described as the pearl of the Middle Ages - and not without good reason! The division of the former mining village in the Gothic Citt� Nuova and the Romantic lower village is quite noticeable.

The nearby Colline Metallifere hills and their rich ore deposits made Massa Marittima into an important settlement even during Etruscan and Roman times. It was not until the Middle Ages however, that Massa Marittima flourished as a mining town.

First mining codex

In the 13th century it was confidently proclaimed to be an autonomic city republic, where up to 10.000 people lived. The community flourished, the rising population made it necessary to expand the city, the Citt� Nuova was added. In 1310, the city passed the first mining law, the Codex Minerarius Massetanus, which can be viewed today in the city library.

Cloak of oblivion

Due to its mineral resources, Massa Marittima was often fought over. First the town fell into the hands of Siena, then to the Medici. Malaria and the plague also took its toll on the city. At the end of the 18th century, it only had a population of 500.

Thanks to the radical de-populisation, the mediaeval townscape remained almost untouched. It was not until the swaps were drained in the 19th century that malaria could be defeated and better living conditions were created.

{$VAR_EXTRATHEMEN_TEXT}

Tuscanylive bookmarken: