Upon the death of Ricciarda Malaspinawhich took place in 1553, his son came to power Alberico (1532-1623) destined to administer the state for seventy years. In him the lineage of the gods converges Malaspinaa family of ancient feudal tradition, and that of Cybo, family ascribed to the Genoese patriciate. In 1554, the same year as his investiture, Alberico obtained the license with which he was elected lieutenant of the Duke Guido Ubaldo della Roverecaptain general of the arms of the Church. In 1557 he began the construction of the walls of Carrara (10 May) and Massa (10 June). At the time, the presence of walls was almost an indispensable prerequisite for a settlement to be defined as a city with all the privileges that this title brought. For this reason the construction of the city walls symbolically became almost the very foundation of the city and for this reason Alberico is indicated as the founding prince. Alberici’s urban planning completely overturns the dimension of the medieval city. New neighborhoods now arise with their own churches, built according to the Tridentine precepts. Furthermore, numerous buildings were built which overlook wider and brighter streets than the medieval ones, which were narrow and dark. On Alberico’s orders, the Community House in Piazza del Duomo was restored and the construction of a palace for the Marquis of Carrara against the ancient Malaspina fortress was undertaken. Then, in 1574, the prince ordered the construction of Piazza Alberica on a sort of meadow where until the mid-1500s no houses stood and livestock were raised, so much so that it was called Platea Porcorum. These interventions were accompanied by the construction of some city fountains, the first of which was, in 1563, that of the Giant in Piazza del Duomo.
Friday 10 May, at 5pm, at Palazzo Binelli, Davide Lambruschi will present the Alberician day. This year’s conference is “Alberico’s Carrara, matrix of the phenomenon of majesties”, speaker professor Piero Donati. On Saturday 11th, at 3pm, the traveling conference dedicated to the city’s secret gardens will start from Piazza Accademia. The initiative is dedicated to the memory of the professor Paolo Santiformer teacher at the city’s art high school and, for years, a valuable collaborator in this event.
The event promoted by the Albericiana Academy, with the patronage of the municipality of Carrara and the hospitality of the Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara Foundation.
