Mercury square

It was once called Mazzini square and was seat of the market which took place on Tuesday and Friday. In the period in which ancient Medieval villages were adapted to the Renaissance criteria, some buildings were destroyed and other built to create the square, which dates back to the middle of the 16th century.
The buildings facing the square have different peculiarities: those situated along the north-east front have a 15th century stamp, being high and narrow; those situated along the other sides have more respite.
The portals are all inlaid with marble decoration dating probably back to the 1500s. In 1556 a fountain was placed in the middle of the square. The market, which still characterises the square, began in 1574. It was Carlo I Cybo-Malaspina who had the San Giovanni Decollato church in the south-east side of the square erected. The fountain over the marble column dates back to 1770 and Mercury's statue was placed in 1771. During the second world war the monument was demolished in consequence of a bombing, but it was restored in 1978.

Massa buildings

Map of the Massa