Duchy of Massa and Carrara 1851, thanks to the English engineer and tycoon William Walton. In 1846 the Count Francesco del Medico proposed to the Duke Francis V the construction of the Marble Railway of Carrara, to link the marble quarries to the sea and thereby facilitating the transport of blocks to the areas for sorting, loading, and shipping. This project was also suspended for lack of funds. The Marble Railway was finally built after the Italian unification (1871–1890). In the last years of the duchy, an increasing number of clashes was seen between the liberals and the ducal government, especially in Carrara. The territory
Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli Roman Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli The Italian Catholic Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli () is in Tuscany. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pisa. The historical Diocese of Massa Carrara had its name changed in 1939 to Diocese of Apuania; and again in 1986 to Diocese of Massa. In 1988 it was united with the Diocese of Pontremoli. The see of Massa Carrara was created in 1822 at the instance of Duchess Maria Beatrice, and its first bishop was Francesco Maria Zappi. It was then suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pisa; but for a period from 1855 was