History of Massarosa

About 20 thousand inhabitants live in Massarosa. It is characterized by a hill landscape with many olive trees.

This frames the enchanting Massaciuccoli lake so loved by Giacomo Puccini, the great composer!
There are some medieval towers, some Romanesque churches and some eighteenth-century villas, too.

Massarosa history begins in the III (third) century B.C. At first Apuani tribes settle in this place. They were very warlike people.
Then Romans arrived. They were searching for the furthest communication route to reach Cisalpine Gallia. At that time the sea arrived till the mountains.

The sea air was so healthy that Romans built thermal baths here. In Massaciuccoli there are still remains of roman baths.
After Romans Longobardi settle here. They divided this land in big properties called masse. The name of Massarosa derived from Massagrausi that means: “Property of Grauso”, a Longobardo sir. From 932 till XVIII century Massarosa was under the domain of Lucca canon . In 1869 the town reached its municipal indipendence. Before it belonged to Viareggio council