Carrara marble quarries tour map guide to visiting the quarries above carrara.
Marble quarry florence italy.
A luminary of italy s arte povera.
The renaissance was boom time for carrara.
The carrara marble quarries sit on the carrione river in the massa carrara province of tuscany.
The majestic marble quarries of northern italy fueled by insatiable demand in the gulf states the italian marble trade is booming.
The major city in the region is florence.
Touring the marble mines in the apuan alps in northern tuscany is an incredible visual experience which is why the location was chosen for the chase scene in the james bond film quantum of solace.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the marble quarries were monitored by the cybo and malaspina families who ruled over massa and carrara.
The quarries among the marble crests of the.
Tuscany region west central italy.
Michelangelo opened them in 1518 for his never completed facade of the san lorenzo church in florence.
Carrara k ə ˈ r ɑːr ə kə rar ə italian.
The city of massa in particular saw much of its plan.
It lies along the tyrrhenian and ligurian seas and comprises the provinces of massa carrara lucca pistoia prato firenze livorno pisa arezzo siena and grosseto.
The family created the office of marble in 1564 to regulate the marble mining industry.
Marble was de rigueur in florence venice and rome and there was plenty of money being invested in art.
There is no public transportation to the quarries so the most convenient way to visit is by joining a small group tour or shore excursion.
Leave florence and discover some of the most beautiful places in italy.
The nearest city is carrara but day trips usually depart from la spezia or florence.
A look at how the stone is wrenched from the earth.
Carara is a city and comune in tuscany in central italy of the province of massa and carrara and notable for the white or blue grey marble quarried there.
Carrara marble has been used since the time of ancient rome and it was called the luni marble.
Join us for the ultimate adventure as we set out to explore some amazing attractions near florence to discover some of the most beautiful places in tuscany.
It is on the carrione river some 100 kilometres 62 mi west northwest of florence its motto is fortitudo mea in rota latin.
My strength is in the wheel.
Discovering the carrara marble quarries has given a completely new dimension to our way of appreciating stone sculptures.
Visit carrara and its impressive marble quarries.