Piazza Aranci is the civic heart of Massa, an elegant rectangular space lined with arcaded buildings and planted with the orange trees that give it its name. The trees were introduced by the Cybo-Malaspina dukes in the seventeenth century as a mark of noble taste and a mild climate — oranges were a luxury plant, and their presence signalled that this was a court city of some standing. The piazza retains much of its original character, with the Palazzo Ducale (now housing local government offices) forming one side of the square.
The arcades shelter cafes and small shops and make the piazza usable even in summer heat or winter rain. In the evenings it fills with the slow, sociable promenade that is central to Italian town life. It is the natural starting point for any walk through Massa: the cathedral is a few minutes away on foot, and the road up to the Malaspina Castle begins nearby. A weekly market brings extra life to the square on its traditional day, and the piazza serves as the venue for local festivals and civic events throughout the year.