Carrara: The City of Marble

Since ancient times, Carrara — a Tuscan town in the hinterland of Versilia —  has been a world-famous city, known especially for its marble. In fact, there are many quarries here, where every day, huge blocks of fine marble are extracted to be used all over the world. Not only this, the great artist and sculptor Michelangelo used this very marble of Carrara to give life to his works. 

Carrara is located just a few kilometres from the coast of Versilia and hides in its various corners, precious sculptures and buildings made of marble. Even the City Cathedral’s facade is made of marble! It is, after all, the most-used material for construction in Carrara. 

For those who stay in Versilia, for example in places like Forte Dei Marmi, only a small stretch of road (about 30 minutes) needs to be traversed to reach the destination with the Apuan Alps, as protagonists, visible even from the sea. A setting quite unique in itself!

However, the main attractions not to be missed while strolling through the city are; Piazza Alberica, with its various marble pavements contrasting with the majestic and colourful buildings, and the square fountain with a statue reminiscent of Duchess Maria Beatrice D'Este in its centre.

Continuing along the streets of the centre, one also comes across the precious Cathedral of Sant'Andrea, whose facade is made of white Carrara marble and black marble from a nearby village called Colonnata. Right in the centre of the facade, is the rose window with a semblance of a wheel, the symbol of this city. In fact, the name "Carrara" derives from the name “wagons”, which were once used to transport the blocks of marble. 

Also worthy of a visit is the fountain in Piazza d'Armi created by the artist Kenneth Davis. Its peculiarity is the rotating sphere (very impressive and heavy) in marble that moves using just the force of water! The Teatro Degli Animosi, whose facade is also made of white marble, deserves to be admired too. 

In every corner, the city of Carrara hides buildings, squares, and marble sculptures. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that being in Carrara is like being in a sculptors' live workshop. For those who love art, and the link between this city and the great artist Michelangelo, we recommend a visit to Carrara and the Michelangelo Museum in Villa Fabbricotti, located not far from the centre. 

In order to enter the life of the city’s atmosphere, it is necessary to go up along the roads that bring one closer to the quarries. These roads are navigable and require minimum effort, but the panorama is really suggestive of the entire atmosphere. In the blink of an eye, you pass from the city to a unique scenery, where wherever you look, you find the white of the marble blocks and quarries. Along the way, you will also come across the ancient Ponti di Vara (bridges) built to let the old Ferrovia Marmifera (marmifera railway), that transported the large blocks, pass. At the end of the route, you will reach the famous Fantiscritti quarries, appreciated by tourists for their scenic environment, and also the Museo Delle Cave (quarry museum), symbolic of the history of marble and how it was transported.  Every summer in Fantiscritti, the unmissable event where experts reenact the ancient art of transporting blocks of marble using ropes, a special moment of recalling history for tourists, is held.

For those who want to see the marble quarries up close, there are guided tours with maximum safety. You can go inside the quarries and then reach the top, located at an altitude of 1000 metres. From here you will see a breathtaking view of Versilia till the Cinque Terre.

Along the route, there is also the village of Colonnata with its several quarries. It is an ancient village with small alleys and souvenir stores. Colonnata is especially famous for the production of its renowned lard, a local delicacy IGP. Here, you can stop for a tasty snack and visit the village as well. Many other stores selling marble objects are located along the road that you take to get to the quarries, so why not take home a souvenir for yourself on your way back?

Going down and returning to the valley, you will also find another village by the name of Torano. Torano, too is an ancient village, but it has marble quarries as the backdrop of its houses. Hereagain, every summer, a festival that lasts for about 2 weeks takes place. It is a festival where between the dances, shows, and good food, you can also admire the many marble statues and works by various artists. 

So, when in Carrara, get lost in the streets of the village to find its various hidden treasures and if you are staying in Versilia, then this is a destination not to be missed. Everything, from the city of Carrara to the marble quarries and its villages, has a timeless charm. 

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