Massa Marittima artistic itineraries

From Piazza del Duomo to the church of St. Augustine

Piazza del Duomo
The visit to discover the beauties of Massa Marittima part from Piazza Garibaldi, heart of a free municipality, the urban space that combines the most important architectural complex of religious and political life of this city: the cathedral, the palace Pretorio the Episcopal palace, the palace the City. Enclose the square, that Garibaldi also, the sources and the public Logge, used originally to host the meetings, then the court and eventually the market. With regard to public sources also said the services are made up of a massive building, with three large arches and sturdy arched where they were made together the sources of drinking water in the country. Above the three arches came in later built a store where it was kept 5% of the entire production of wheat, as a reserve in case of war or famine.

Duomo
Built from the twelfth century, this building is one of the most outstanding examples of architecture not only religious but also of the Maremma Tuscany. How not to blow, when entered into the square, you see the Cathedral of Saint Cerbone stand on top of a staircase that the erratic casts even more upwards.
The main facade, decorated with blind arches and a loggia, reveals the internal division into three naves. Is to stop watching the architrave of the portal with scenes from the life of Saint Cerbone which the church is dedicated.
Once inside proceed to the discovery of the treasures that this church has in store for us, stands out among all the magnificent polychrome wooden Crucifix by Giovanni Pisano dramatic tones. And what about also of the monumental baptismal font made from Giroldo from Como. Of equal importance is the 'Ark of Saint Cerbone, fourteenth-century masterpiece of the sculptor Goro di Gregorio. As for painting, has been the Madonna and Children from the school of Duccio di Buoninsegna.
Exit down the stairs this is the impressive amount of Pretorio palace, now a museum.

Palazzo Pretorio
In the halls of this building thirteenth century, the Romanesque clear, we exhibit the works belonging to the Archaeological Museum and many other municipal property including the Majesty of Ambrogio Lorenzetti, a masterpiece of Sienese painter of the couple.

Palazzo Comunale
The majestic building is composed of two buildings dall'accorpamento home fourteenth century, of which central body in Sienese Gothic style, with the thirteenth-century tower of the Bargello.

Continuing along the path of freedom across the buildings of considerable historic and architectural importance, including building Pannocchieschi, powerful family which had among its members bishops and imperial principles. Further ahead is the building where was born Albizzeschi san Bernardino. Then walk down Via dei Bassi and steep road Moncini at the end of which there is the door to Salici, a sort of hinge between the old town and the new beginning, just past the port, in piazza Matteotti. Here there is the tower of the candlestick, now reduced to two thirds of its original height and the walls connected by a bridge arc rampant. Opposite the tower stands the fifteenth Hall of Arms, made available as the site of the Museum of Art and History Mining.

Museum of Art and History of Mining
Housed in the halls of the palace fifteenth calendar, formerly used as a store of weapons, this museum bears witness to the life in the mines by reading the panels and the vision of mineral and tools to help understand how you played the mining operation, typical Metalliferous hills. It was a particularly important territory in which lies Massa Marittima is a witness to the presence in town of a similar museum, that of mine that involved site visits in Corridoni.

Is not this the only document the fact that trades for a long time past, supplanted dall'inarrestabile advanced new technologies, but in this city have found space to return to live. In fact, just embarked Diaz course, we meet via Populonia wonder where the tourist's presence in an old mill, dating from the late eighteenth century. Visit it is like making a tuff in a world whose work was synonymous with hard work, commitment, industriousness. It affects not only the little ones, the big wheel on the axle is engaged in a long lever which was aggiogato the mule.
Diaz returned to the course there are the Museo di Santa Cecilia antique mechanical bodies and the Museum of Sacred Art.

Museum St Cecilia Organ old mechanical
Housed in an area of 'old church of San Pietro all'Orto, museum, unique in Italy, shows the evolution of technology, style and taste of the keyboard instruments (from harpsichord to piano), with special attention to production locally. An artistic heritage includes pieces of exceptional value. This visit will be a pleasure for the eyes and to hearing, since the foundation organizes musical events where you can hear the sound of ancient instruments exposed facts ringing to mark the occasion, from the hands of international pianists.

Museum of Sacred Art
Here is the latest in the Museum of Massa Marittima. For a prestigious collection of works of civil and religious life of the city has found a container equally prestigious: the convent of San Pietro all'Orto.

Walking the course for Diaz meets Socci square where towards the end of the thirteenth century was begun the construction of the church of St. Augustine, which ended in the first half of the fourteenth century.

Church of St. Augustine
The sobriety of the forms is married to a strong feeling of grandeur. Inside is kept as the relic of St. Bernardino da Siena, Massa of birth, as well as canvases and painted panels of considerable value.
Very beautiful are the cloisters belonging to the fifteenth century that belonged to the Augustinian convent.