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LOCATION
The territory of Massa e Cozzile, besides representing a destination worthy of visits and excursions, has the privilege to be situated in a strategic position among many places of remarkable tourist interest. First of all, Montecatini Terme, with which it borders, a renowned and equipped resort of hydrothermal treatments. Near Massa e Cozzile you can also find Monsummano Terme , with its beneficial mud baths, and Pescia representing an important centre of flower-growing and tree nurseries. Collodi, with its park dedicated to the very famous puppet Pinocchio, is also close at hand for Pescia. The area of Massa  e Cozzile is also in a strategic position among the most beautiful cities of art in our country: Florence is only 50 kilometers away, easily reached on the motorway (A11FI-Mare), Lucca and Pisa are respectively 25 Km and about 40 Km away. Massa e  Cozzile offers a beautiful scenery and a pleasantly typical Tuscan atmosphere. It is an attractive place for the untouched landscape. Depending on the season, you can see the corn become golden, attend the grape-harvest ceremony , look for mushrooms and gather chestnuts. Moreover, the territory offers a series of hikers' paths that, besides connecting the oldest parts of the district, allow us to go for pleasant walks in generous and uncontaminated nature.

HISTORY
 The Massa e Cozzile district stretches from the first slopes of Tusco-Emilian Apennines as far as the Padule di Fucecchio natural park: from the luxuriant chestnut woods, to the typical olive-groves and vineyards to the fertile fields and estates in the plain.It neighbours with Montecatini, a tourist spa town which is only a quick drive from Pescia and Collodi, birthplace of the most famous puppet in the world. At the same time Massa e Cozzile is very near the great lines of communication (the A11 FI-Mare motorway and SS 435 A-class road, linking Lucca with Pistoia.) and is in a central position among the most famous towns and natural beauties in Tuscany.The territory is divided into various populated areas: the villages of Massa and Cozzile on the hill top and the hamlets: Le Molina, Vacchereccia and Vangile stretching to the South, as well as Margine Coperta and Traversagna in the plain. The district in ancient  times was indeed composed of three distinct villages: Verruca, Massa and Cozzile. Even nowadays the coat of arms portrays the symbols of each community: the Verruca Cross, the Cozzile Lily and the Massa Ironshod Mace. The borough of Massa is one of the oldest settlements in Valdinievole and its beginnings may be traced back to an ancient farm of the third and fourth cent. A.D. Proof of its Roman origin can be found in the coins, cinerary urns and epigraphs discovered near the village: people could enter this typical medieval settlement, fortified and surrounded with walls, through three doors named "Porta Pieri" in the North, "Porta ai Campi" in the South and "Porta Fontana in the West: these last two are still in existence. The first accounts we have about the villages of "Massa sulla Borra" and Verruca trace back to the second half of the eleventh century, while the origin of Cozzile is certainly subsequent. Documentary sources indeed    attest that the countess Matilde di Canossa would have stayed in Massa in 1078, while Verruca is mentioned in one of the Emperor Ottone Ill's diplomas dating back to the tenth century.From the Lombardic occupation to the Florentine domination in 1339-40, Massa always remained dependent on Lucca, although keeping a certain autonomy, indeed already in 1208 it became a rural district area with its own Consuls.It was probably in this period that Cozzile was founded and that the district received the double denomination it still has today.At about the end of the thirteenth century the people from Massa conquered the much longed-for and unconquerable Verruca. During the whole of the fourteenth century, Massa and Cozzile were involved in the continuous wars between Pistoia, Lucca, Firenze and Pisa. Under the domination of Florence , Massa was able to achieve a wide independence.In its territory a really independent "podesteria" was formed and remained this way till the end of the eighteenth century when, with the Grand Duke Leopoldo's reforms, it was united to Buggiano. Under the restored Grand Duchy of Lorraine, after 1814, Massa e Cozzile remained an autonomous territory. Not even the Unification of Italy was able to touch the sense of the collective identity that the inhabitants of Massa felt so deeply and that even today represents a fundamental element for the defence and increase in value of this picturesque Tuscan area.

MASSA  (THE HISTORIC HEART OF THE DISTRICT)
 When we enter the village of Massa, we plunge completely into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Indeed, like manyTuscan settlements, it is a village enclosed with walls, watched over by towers, where we can enter through ancient doors,  with a fortress dominating the most elevated point. The fourteenth century door "Porta ai Campi" shows us into the Southern part of the village and, after a few steps, we arrive at Piazza Cavour where we can find the Romanic church consacrated to Our Lady of the Assumption, rebuilt in the seventeenth century, and a wing of the imponent Convent of the Visitation founded in 1683 as a feminine conservatory and converted in 1714 into a convent commissioned by the Gand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici. The small chapel is situated next to the church; which is decorated in an eighteenth century style. From the square we set off for the main road of the village , Via Roma, where'buildings and houses fully show off their medieval origin, and we come to Piazza Matteotti, the real  heart of the village since it was founded.. The Northern side of the small square is occupied by the "Loggia del Podesta", on whose walls, coats of arms appear. This is in front of an exclusive building which houses the Historical Archives of the Council.From here we go along the main road, which climbs steeply, lined with buildings which take us further into the past, until we finally arrive at the top of the village where, hidden by an olive-grove, there are the remains of an ancient medieval fortress.

 A WALK TO COZZILE
 An ancient Romanic road links the two historic centres of Massa and Cozzile. We turn into it at the end of Via Roma and it steeply climbs among the tilled fields and olive groves, bestowing us scenes of intense beauty. By looking up we can see, set gently on the ridge, the towering structure of the Palace de Gubernatis. But the horizon grows larger during the walk, and with just a glance, we can see the village of Massa and the cupola of the church as well as the valley, the Verruca hill-top and the Croci Sanctuary. Proceeding, after the last ramp, we go into the village of Cozzile by entering through the Levant Door. From there we are led into the main street of the village, which functions as its backbone and divides into two lines of houses dating back to the Middle Ages.It is worthwhile visiting, at the end of the main road, the St Jacob Church, with a Romanic structure, which was rebuilt and enlarged in the sixteenth century. Immediately close to the church, we meet the imposing Gubernatis Palace, which dominates the valley in a panoramic position.Once outside the "Porta Nuova", connected to the front of the Palace, we enjoy a wonderful view of the whole Valdinievole and on the clearer days, we can distinguish the dark mountainous outline of the island of Elba. Finally, it is worth paying a visit to the fifteenth century Cozzile " Margine" (Holy Image). Situated just outside the village, it is a small jewel of minor clerical architecture.

THE SURROUNDINGS: THE VERRUCA HILL-TOP
 In order to reach the area we take the steep and panoramic Via Croci which leads, from an old restaured oil-mill, to a square surrounded by the greenery , where the eighteenth century Sanctuary consacrated to the Blessed Virgin of Carmelo stands. We can admire the elegance of the bright portico with three arches and the peaceful atmosphere conveyed to the visitor. It is on the other hand impossible to visit the St. Cataldo medieval Oratory, of which all that remains is part of the apse. Taking the path on the right a short walk takes us to the ruins of the Verruca fortress. Conquered by the people from Massa at the end of the thirteenth century, it was abandoned by the inhabitants and the buildings fell quickly to ruin; however, a few romantic remains of the ancient fortifications are left, in a landscape of enchanted serenity. The Verruca hill-top represents, moreover, a quite pleasant destination for the people who are fond of hiking, given the many paths climbing among the olive-groves and the gorgeous chestnut woods. In particular, it is worthwhile taking the short path leading from the square of Croci to the Romanic bridge called "di Barano" connecting the two opposite slopes over the Borra stream , in a luxuriant landscape.

FOLKLORE
 In summer you can spend many evenings by listening to music or attending plays with the possibility to taste typical oenogastronomic products. Indeed sampling good cooking and attending various entertainments go well together during the "Settimane Massesi" occurring in June in the historic centre of Massa. Another opportunity not to be missed by the lovers of food is the Croci Festival which take place in the first week of September in the place of the same name. Besides enjoying good food, we can have the satisfaction of contributing to a just cause: the proceeds from the event are used towards the restauration of the splendid Croci Sanctuary of the eighteenth century, consacrated to the Blessed Virgin of Carmelo. The "bruschetta festival" on 1st May in the village of Cozzile is another occasion in which oenogastronomic tradition and entertainment come together in a charming atmosphere. Characteristic rural festivals also take place in the other localities of the district: the "mortadella festival" in Traversagna, the "crostino festival" in the Biscolla neighbourhood and the "penna al sugo festival" in Margine Coperta. Finally, not to be forgotten is the patron feast of St Rocco on 16th August, during which the whole community gathers to have dinner in the village square of Vangile and the "festival of olive oil: cultural innovation and tradition" which takes place at the social oil-mill at the beginning of December. On this occasion all the participants can taste, free of charge, typical meals seasoned with olive oil, such as the "bruschetta", the "farinata" with black cabbage, white beans, etc.. But it is also by paying a visit in the restaurants or trattorias of Massa e Cozzile that it is possible to appreciate, together with the hospitality, the tasty gastronomic specialities of the area. Local cooking is inspired by the most valued Tuscan tradition, privileging the simple rustic meals, but without ignoring the equally traditional roasts as well as mushroom andvegetable fries. All this tasted with the delightful wines of the Valdinievole.

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