Fivizzano, a walled city in the province of Massa and Carrara, Tuscany (Italy), became part of the Republic of Florence in the 15th century thus gaining the Tuscan republic an important foothold in Lunigiana, a key region which Genoa, Lucca, Pisa, Milan and Florence had sought to dominate since the early Middle Ages. It is also known as "The Florence of Lunigiana" because of historical economic, cultural and political links with Florence. It is situated near Verrucola Castle, which was home to the artist Pietro Cascella until his death in May 2008.