Pietrasanta between marble, sculpture and sea

Pietrasanta lies between the Apuan Alps and the sea. The town is considered the capital of artistic marble processing and has developed into an open-air museum of contemporary art and sculpture. For you, this means a destination where public art, architectural history, museums and walking experiences can be combined.

Public art

The Parco Internazionale della Scultura Contemporanea in Pietrasanta includes more than 80 monumental works in public spaces. The permanently installed sculptures include Il Guerriero by Fernando Botero and Centauro by Igor Mitoraj. You can see both works while walking through Pietrasanta and experience the town’s artistic character directly in its streetscape.

Museums between art and history

The collection of the Museo Igor Mitoraj includes sculptures made of marble, bronze and resin, as well as jewellery. The Museo Padre Eugenio Barsanti is associated with models of early prototypes of internal combustion engines, memorabilia, documents and personal belongings. The Museo Archeologico Versiliese Bruno Antonucci was established from archaeological finds discovered in the area from the 1960s onwards.

Duomo and Campanile

The Duomo di San Martino in Pietrasanta was built in the 14th century. Its interior includes a marble pulpit assembled in the 17th century from works by various artists. The Campanile del Duomo is an unfinished 16th-century structure and is 36 metres high. Together, these buildings give a historical and architectural focus to a visit to the town.

Via Francigena and other destinations

The Via Francigena also passes through Pietrasanta: Stage 26 runs from Massa to Camaiore through the town. Anyone wishing to combine cultural sightseeing with a section of the route can include this part in their plans. The nearby area around Pietrasanta also includes the Pretorio Palace, the two museums Aria Art Gallery and Galleria Petrarte, as well as the archaeological museum Museo Archeologico Versiliese “b. Antonucci”.

Beaches in the surrounding area

The beach Spiaggia Marina di Pietrasanta is located in the immediate area around Pietrasanta. The beach Spiaggia Forte dei Marmi is also nearby. The surrounding area of Pietrasanta also includes the beach Spiaggia Lido di Camaiore and the beach Spiaggia Marina di Massa. This allows you to weigh up the town’s cultural setting, the route experience and various seaside destinations when planning your trip.

Planning your trip to Pietrasanta

When choosing your accommodation, it helps to decide in advance what your personal focus will be. Art enthusiasts can structure their days around sculptures, museums and the Duomo; anyone who also wants to include a stage of the Via Francigena or nearby beaches will be planning around several different themes.

Other places in this selection are Marina Di Pietrasanta, Strettoia Di Pietrasanta, Querceta, Vignone, Camaiore, Barga, Ghivizzano and Massarosa.

To the main travel overview: Lucca.