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Just 3 km (1.8 miles) from the coast, mountains and sea blend together beautifully at Pietrasanta, a small medieval town straddling the last foothills of the Apuan Alps.

The town has Roman origins and part of the Roman wall still stands. Throughout history, and even to this day, artists have appreciated the mellowness of Tuscany and have been inspired to capture the beauty of this unchanged landscape on canvas. 

Pietrasanta grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.

Today's artists and sculptors are drawn to Pietrasanta from all over the world. Their studios mingle with small elegant shops among the wooden shutters and ochre washed buildings in the deep alleyways that radiate from Piazza del Duomo.

click to open the pietrasanta vicinity map

Pietrasanta town is an historic town with notable monuments mainly contained in the magnificent Piazza del Duomo and also important centre for the artistic working of marble. Marina di Pietrasanta is located on the sea front and is a renowned seaside resort with elegant villas, hotels and sport facilities set amid the greenery. Famous nightclubs and discotheques available.

A renowned summer festival at the open-air theatre Versiliana is held in the summer featuring a wide variety of entertainment. Nearby, in the 'village of Valdicastello it is possible to visit the native home of the poet Carducci.

Pietrasanta has always been an important cultural centre in Versilia. The important artisan tradition has been kept alive by the local workshops and atelier, by the firms specialized in the artistic-mosaic sector and by many artistic-foundries.

The rich artistic context has functioned as catalyst for many italian and foreigner artist that have chosen Pietrasanta as the land where to work and have participated to the urban fittings with the works and deeds of gifts. Among these artists is Fernando Botero, the Spanish artist whose paunchy warrior guards the entrance to the village. The best observation-point to watch Pietrasanta's town-planning plant is Sala fortress

Pietrasanta has been defined the "small Athens" for its marble studios, its artistic foundries, its artisans, the sculptors coming from all over the world, for its cultural activities, for the ancient and modern monuments, for its sculptures, gifts of the great artists of this century tha add beauty to its streets and squares, and also for its historic center, considered a precious jewlery case of the Middle Ages. Pietrasanta is correctly considered as the number one place in the world for marble working.

Pietrasanta museums art and churches
For its love of art and beauty in Pietrasanta you can "breath" art at each corner: there are eight bronze foundries and dozens of marble laboratories; exhibitions at the Luigi Russo Cultural Center and more than twenty art galleries; the Museo dei Bozzetti (Museum of the Maquettes), which features maquettes and models of the creations of the most important contemporary sculptors; the Stagio Stagi Art Institute established 150 years ago; a route of monumental sculptures donated to the city by famous artists (such as Botero, Cascella, Folon, Marinsky, Messina, Mitoraj ) and located in public spaces, in addition to the large frescoes by Botero in the Church of San Antonio Abate and by Mitoraj in the Council Chamber at City Hall.

From an artistic point of view Pietrasanta is, without doubt, the most interesting town of Versilia and is considered to be the "capital".
The years following its foundation constituted a period of great splendour, an idea of which may be gained by viewing the main square, or Piazza.

The lay-out of the town is particularly interesting as, at first glance, it looks haphazard but on closer inspection it can be seen that the old centre was built to a symmetrical checkerboard plan, where every urban component is placed in an exact relation to every other, in accordance with the golden proportion.

Visit the exquisite art exhibitions, marble work shops, musical evenings and restaurants for which the town is famous. Stroll leisurely through the narrow cobbled streets which radiate out from the old town square you will be treading the same pathways used by Michelangelo all those centuries ago.