Tuscany Tour 2026

Tuscany Tour 2026

Carrara Marble Quarries - Day 27

After spending a few days by the sea, we set off in the morning to begin our journey home, for which we still have 2 weeks and can experience quite a bit along the way.

Today we traveled to Carrara, where the famous Carrara marble is extracted. On the way there, we passed the chapel Oratorio di San Guido and the renowned cypress avenue near Bolgheri. We also stopped at a roadside stand from a farm to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables.

The drive into the Apuan Alps was an adventure in itself. The narrow roads wind up the mountains, and the tunnels we had to pass through felt like they belonged to another time. Narrow, dark, and only roughly carved from the rock. And we were all alone in the 'wide expanse'. We thought we might have gotten lost, but after what felt like an eternity, we finally reached our destination - Fantiscritti.

Fantiscritti refers to a mountain in the Apuan Alps and a significant quarry area for marble above Carrara. It is one of the three major extraction sites for Carrara marble.

The view of the mountains with the white marble was already interesting. And the machines employed on the slopes.

Additionally, we visited a museum in Fantiscritti featuring stone-cutting tools and sculptures in the open air.

The story of the famous white marble began long before artists, such as Michelangelo, crafted their timeless masterpieces.

After a night in Carrara, we moved on the next morning.