Avenza

Avenza is a municipality belonging to the province of Massa-Carrara (MS) in Tuscany. Avenza, dominated by the imposing ruins of its fortress, rises in the commune of Carrara. It is reacheable, from Florence, following the Motoway A11 Firenze-Mare until the connection with the A12 Livorno-Genova. Exit at 'Massa' and following the indications for Marina di Massa we reach our destination after approximately 4 kilometers. The origins of Avenza are lost in the night of time. The name took origin from the one of the river on which it lies, the 'Flumen Aventia', that we can also find on the 'Tabula Peutingeriana' (famous ancient road map of the late Roman era, today conserved in Vienna), of Celtic-Ligurian origin [A-enza = at the river]. Archaeological traces of the roman age have been found in the 18th century and recently in the adjacent zone of Nazzano. The first written memory on this settlement dates back to 950 d.C.

Its optimal position along the ancient Via Aemilia Scauri (then called ' Romea' or 'Francigena '), and nearby the Tyrrheanian Sea, only about 3 Km far from the ancient city of Luni, the city known a great development in the Middle Ages: like center for the export of the marble, trading port for varrious goods and cattle. In the 13th century Avenza become part of the Vicariage of Carrara, the town was encircled by fortified walls and its military strategic importance grow. Its castle, built leaning against the city walls, in the successive centuries was strengthened: in 14th century by Castruccio Castracani, Lord of Lucca, and in 15th by the powerful family of the Marquises Malaspina. In the second half of 1500 Alberico Cybo Malaspina drained surroundings plain and restructured all the fortifications. In 1848 the inhabitants of Avenza tried to get independence from the commune of Carrara, attempt repeated many times always without success.

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