Massa Marittima Tourist Attractions

The Piazza Garibaldi, the main square of the Città Vecchia, developed in irregular fashion over the centuries, with the Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace (Palazzo Vescovile), the Palazzo Pretorio, the Palazzo Comunale and other historic old buildings.

On the south side of Piazza Garibaldi, approached by a broad flight of steps, is the Cathedral of San Cerbone, which dates in its present form from 1228 to 1304 and accordingly shows both Romanesque and Gothic features. The facade, on which Giovanni Pisano (c. 1250-c. 1320) worked, has round-arched blind arcades, the lower tiers of which continue round the side walls. On the lintel of the main doorway is a finely carved relief depicting scenes from the life of San Cerbone. Abutting the left-hand side of the church rises the massive campanile, with five tiers of windows, increasing in number from the lowest to the uppermost tier so as to create a striking perspective effect. Over the crossing is an octagonal dome. The interior (aisled) contains some notable sculpture. In the right-hand aisle is a font carved from a single block of travertine, with reliefs of scenes from the life of John the Baptist by Giroldo da Como (1267). In a chapel in the transept is an Altar-piece of the Madonna delle Grazie, modeled on the "Maestà" of Duccio di Buoninsegna and attributed to Duccio himself or one of his many pupils.

On the west side of Piazza Garibaldi in Massa Maríttima, facing the cathedral, is the Palazzo Pretorio or Palazzo del Podestà, built entirely of travertine. It was formerly the residence of successive governors and rulers of Massa Maríttima (the podestà, the commissari, the capitani di guistizia). A severe Romanesque building (13th century), it bears on its facade the coat of arms of governors of Massa and Siena from 1426 to 1633.

Adjoining the Palazzo Pretorio in Massa Maríttima is the tower-like Casa dei Conti di Biserno, a Romanesque building of the 13th century (partly rebuilt in the 19th century).

Immediately adjoining the Casa dei Conti di Biserno is the Palazzo Comunale, a massive travertine structure formed out of a number of Romanesque tower houses (including the 13th century Torre del Bargello). On the first floor is the Gabinetto del Sindaco (Mayor's Room), with 16th century frescoes and one of the masterpieces of Sienese painting, Ambrogio Lorenzetti's "Madonna and Child with Angels and Saints" (c. 1330).

Above the Cathedral rises the Fortezza dei Senesi, built by the Sienese around the old Castle of Monte Regio after they gained control of Massa in 1335. Notable features of this Città Nuova (New Town) are the Torre del Candeliere (1228), also known as the Torre del Orológio (Clock-Tower), and the new Sienese structures.

The Museo Archeológico (Archeological Museum), in Piazza Matteotti, contains pictures of the Sienese school and archeological material from the surrounding area.

East of the Museo Archeológico via the Corso Diaz is the Romanesque and Gothic Church of Sant'Agostino (1299-1313), with an aisleless interior and a handsome campanile of 1627.

In the Museo della Miniera (Mining Museum), on the south side of the old town of Massa Maríttima, the different mining techniques used in Tuscany are displayed in an old mine-shaft.