Massa Carrara in May - Trip report

Massa Carrara in May - Trip Report

We decided on a few days in the area at the last minute even though the weather forecast wasn't excellent. We had some rain, some sun, it wasn't beach weather but it was fine for hiking and visiting places.

I was in need of seeing the sea and the coast around Montemarcello and Lerici is beautiful.

One of the reasons we chose the area is that it took us only about three hours by car from our mountains. Marina di Massa, where we stayed is nothing special but makes a convenient base to visit Golfo dei Poeti and the hiking in the Montemarcello, Lerici, Tellaro area as well as Massa, Carrara and it's marble caves and Lucca, although you could easily add in Pisa by train too, a place we visited on a separate trip.

Walking along the seafront in Marina di Massa and much of the nearby coast is a bit disappointing because the view of the sea is blocked by beach establishments, bars and restaurants and while the sea seems clean May was really too early to expect the right weather for a beach holiday. Also, the beach is not a walkable beach with good firm sand.

Nevertheless we enjoyed our few days in the area, both for the hiking opportunities, the colour of the flowers and the nature in late spring, 

and also for the visits to Lucca, Carrara and Massa all interesting cities. There weren't many tourists around and so it was a relaxing time of the year to visit these places.

Carrara marble caves are right off the usual tourist track but were the most memorable part of the trip. We stayed in an unremarkable but also quite economical apartment, shopped at Carrefour and ate in, except for some nice focaccia so didn't really have much contact with people. A pleasant few days out of season....