Carrara
Carrara, in provincia di Massa-Carrara, è la città del marmo bianco conosciuta in tutto il mondo, estratto da millenni dalle cave...
Aktualisiert am 19 Juli 2026
In dieser Saison · Juli · Sommer
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Die Geschichte
Die Geschichte von Carrara
Introduction and Location
Carrara lies at the foot of the Apuan Alps, in the province of Massa-Carrara, in northern Tuscany, just a few kilometres from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its name has been synonymous worldwide with white marble, quarried from the mountains surrounding the city since Roman times. The historic centre, with narrow streets and marble buildings, sits alongside the coastal district of Marina di Carrara, home to one of Italy's most important marble ports. The closeness of mountains and sea makes Carrara an ideal base for exploring both the quarries and the Apuan coastline.
History
Marble extraction in Carrara dates back to Roman times, when quarries in the Apuan Alps began supplying material for buildings and monuments in Rome. During the Renaissance, Carrara marble gained European fame thanks to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who personally selected blocks from the Apuan quarries for some of his most celebrated works. In the following centuries, quarrying became the economic engine of the area, shaping a landscape marked by open-air quarries and underground galleries. Carrara still preserves this centuries-old bond with stone today, visible in the layout of its historic centre and in local culture.
Nature and Landscape
Carrara's territory is dominated by the Apuan Alps, a mountain range known for peaks of white marble that make them look, from a distance, like snow-capped summits even in summer. The Fantiscritti quarries, among the best known, offer trails and excursions that let visitors observe quarry faces and extraction equipment up close. Descending toward the sea, the landscape changes radically: Marina di Carrara faces the Tyrrhenian Sea with sandy beaches and a seafront promenade popular in summer. This contrast between mountains and coast is one of the most distinctive features of the whole Apuan territory.
Things to Do
In Carrara, visitors can tour the historic quarries of Colonnata and Fantiscritti with guided excursions explaining extraction techniques, from hand-cutting to modern diamond-wire equipment. In town, it's worth stopping at the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea, entirely clad in marble, and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara, one of Italy's oldest art academies, long linked to stoneworking traditions. Those seeking the sea can head to Marina di Carrara, with its historic port and seafront promenade. The village of Colonnata, perched among the quarries, is another recommended stop for a stroll through its lanes and workshops.
Flavours and Traditions
Carrara's food traditions are closely tied to quarry work: the most famous dish is Lardo di Colonnata IGP, cured in marble basins with aromatic herbs following a method handed down through generations of quarrymen. Alongside the lardo, local cuisine offers simple, hearty dishes designed for those working in the mountains, often served with homemade bread and local wine. Shops in Colonnata and the historic centre still let visitors sample these products today, keeping alive a direct link between the land, the stone and the rural culture of the Apuan Alps.
Not to be missed
- Fantiscritti Quarries
- Colonnata Village
- Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea (Carrara Cathedral)
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara (Academy of Fine Arts)
- Marina di Carrara and its marble port
Sehenswert
Sehenswertes in Carrara
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Routen in Carrara
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