The Massoni Villa

The villa, which owes its name to the last owner, is situated near the the fortress, just before the slope to the Malaspina castle. In 1637 Carlo I Cybo Malaspina bought the villa from Giulio Pacero, a Genoese nobleman. Its original structure, as we can see from some 17th century drawings of Massa, consisted of a little villa with a tower. It was the Duke Carlo II Cybo who decided to enlarge it towards the end of the 17th century, entrusting Alessandro Bergamini, an architect from Carrara, with this task. The changes concerned the west side of the villa, where loggias, terraces and staircases, following the slope of the hill, were added. The villa was adorned inside with statues, busts, marble pots, some of which of local origin and other donated by Cardinal Alderano Cybo, who brought them from Ostia.
Because of his debts Alderano II, Carlo's son, was compelled to sell the most beautiful works of art to his brother, Cardinal Camillo, and to the czar Peter I of Russia.
In 1771 the villa was let to Antonio Willard, the commander of the troops of Modena, which were quartered in Massa. He got life lease and had the façade of the buildings raised, arranging also the roof. 22 years later, in 1793, Carlo Giosuè Marchelli, a ducal architect, made new improvements.
Towards the end of the century the villa was bought by the Count Adolfo Federico Munck, who repaired the structure and the external wall and also built stables for horses.
In 1818 the Count begged Maria Beatrice leave to sell the villa to extinguish his debt and so 11 years later it was sold by auction to Pantalone Del Nero from Carrara who later sold it to Carmelitana Tori.
Finally the villa was inherited by the Marquises Massoni from Lucca, the present owners.