# Massa

> capital of the Province of Massa and Carrara

**Wikidata**: [Q13370](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13370)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massa,_Tuscany)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/massa

## Summary
Massa is a human settlement and the capital city of the Province of Massa and Carrara in the Tuscany region of Italy. Located at coordinates 44.033333333333° N, 10.133333333333° E, it serves as the administrative center for the province and is home to significant historical and religious landmarks such as the Massa Cathedral. The city functions as a key municipal division within the Italian state, hosting institutions like the Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli and the football club S.S.D. Massese.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Capital of the Province of Massa and Carrara; human settlement in Italy.
*   **Country:** Italy, a sovereign state in Southern Europe.
*   **Coordinates:** Latitude 44.033333333333, Longitude 10.133333333333.
*   **Population:** Recorded figures include 69,366; 69,037; 66,000; 69,226; and 66,160.
*   **Official Website:** http://www.comune.massa.ms.it.
*   **Wikidata ID:** Associated with sitelink count of 86.
*   **Wikipedia Title:** "Massa, Tuscany".
*   **Religious Affiliation:** Seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli (established in 1988).
*   **Sports:** Home to S.S.D. Massese, an Italian football club founded in 1919.
*   **Historical Context:** Located within the former Duchy of Massa and Carrara (1473–1829).
*   **Transport:** Served by the Massa Centro railway station, established on January 1, 1862.
*   **Geography:** Includes villages such as Canevara, Caglieglia, and Altagnana.
*   **Linguistic Region:** Situated in an area influenced by the La Spezia–Rimini Line, a major Romance isogloss.
*   **Events:** Hosted the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships.
*   **Architecture:** Home to the Massa Cathedral, established in 1936.

## FAQs
**What is the administrative role of Massa within Italy?**
Massa serves as the capital city of the Province of Massa and Carrara, functioning as the primary municipal division for the region. It acts as the administrative hub for the province, which is part of the Tuscany region in Italy.

**Which religious and sporting institutions are based in Massa?**
The city is the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli, which was established in 1988. Additionally, it is the home base for S.S.D. Massese, a football club that was founded in 1919.

**What historical and geographical features define the area?**
Massa was historically part of the Duchy of Massa and Carrara, which existed from 1473 to 1829. Geographically, the city and its surrounding settlements like Altagnana and Canevara lie along the La Spezia–Rimini Line, a significant linguistic boundary in Italy.

**What infrastructure and events are associated with the city?**
The city features the Massa Centro railway station, which has been in operation since January 1, 1862. It also gained international recognition by hosting the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships.

## Why It Matters
Massa is a critical administrative and cultural node in Northern Tuscany, anchoring the Province of Massa and Carrara. Its significance stems from its role as a historic seat of power, transitioning from the Duchy of Massa and Carrara to a modern Italian comune. The city preserves deep historical continuity through landmarks like the Massa Cathedral and serves as a religious center for the diocese established in the late 20th century. Economically and socially, it supports local identity through sports institutions like S.S.D. Massese and hosts international events, reinforcing its status as a dynamic hub within the Italian peninsula. Its location along the La Spezia–Rimini Line also marks it as a point of linguistic and cultural transition in the Romance language family.

## Notable For
*   **Provincial Capital:** Designated as the capital of the Province of Massa and Carrara.
*   **Historical Duchy:** Formerly the center of the Duchy of Massa and Carrara (1473–1829).
*   **Religious Center:** Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli.
*   **Sports Heritage:** Home to the historic S.S.D. Massese football club (founded 1919).
*   **International Events:** Host city for the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships.
*   **Architectural Landmark:** Site of the Massa Cathedral, established in 1936.
*   **Transport Hub:** Location of the Massa Centro railway station, operational since 1862.
*   **Linguistic Boundary:** Situated on the La Spezia–Rimini Line, a key Romance isogloss.
*   **Regional Settlements:** Encompasses distinct villages including Canevara, Caglieglia, and Altagnana.

## Body

### Administrative and Geographic Overview
Massa is a human settlement and the capital of the Province of Massa and Carrara, located in Italy. It is classified as a comune, representing a municipal division within the Italian state. The city is situated at coordinates 44.033333333333° N and 10.133333333333° E. The population of the city has varied in recorded data, with figures including 69,366, 69,037, 66,000, 69,226, and 66,160. The official website for the municipality is http://www.comune.massa.ms.it. In the context of digital knowledge bases, the entity has a sitelink count of 86 and is identified on Wikipedia as "Massa, Tuscany".

### Historical Context and Evolution
The history of Massa is deeply intertwined with the Duchy of Massa and Carrara, a political entity that existed from 1473 to 1829 in northwestern Tuscana. This historical duchy laid the groundwork for the modern administrative province. The city is part of the broader Italian state, which traces its modern inception to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861, and the subsequent establishment of the republic on June 18, 1946. The region is also geographically significant as it lies along the La Spezia–Rimini Line, a major Romance isogloss that divides Northern and Central Italian dialects.

### Religious and Cultural Institutions
Massa serves as the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli. This diocese was established in 1988 and is a significant religious entity within the Catholic Church in Italy. The city is also home to the Massa Cathedral, a major architectural and religious site that was established in 1936. These institutions highlight the city's role as a spiritual center for the surrounding province.

### Sports and Events
The city has a strong connection to sports, particularly football. S.S.D. Massese is an Italian football club headquartered in Massa, with its inception dating back to 1919. Beyond local sports, Massa has hosted major international events, most notably the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships. This event underscores the city's capability to host large-scale athletic competitions and its prominence in the mountain running community.

### Infrastructure and Settlements
Massa is connected to the national transport network via the Massa Centro railway station. This station has been in operation since January 1, 1862, serving as a vital link for the region. The city's administrative area includes several smaller human settlements and villages. These include Canevara, Caglieglia, and Altagnana, which are all located within the Province of Massa and Carrara. Altagnana, specifically, is noted as a human settlement in Massa, Tuscany, Italy.

### Digital and Knowledge Presence
In the digital realm, Massa is represented across various platforms and databases. It has a significant presence on Wikipedia with a high sitelink count. The entity is cataloged in Wikidata and other academic sources, providing structured data on its population, coordinates, and relationships. The city's digital footprint includes its official municipal website and its representation in global knowledge graphs, ensuring its historical and administrative data is accessible to researchers and the public.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. MusicBrainz
4. [Source](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html)
5. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
6. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html)
7. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
8. GeoNames
9. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
10. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
12. Seismic classification in Italy
13. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)