Marble Quarries in Carrara, Italy: Exploring the White Mountains of Northern Italy International

If you say the word Italy within earshot of my husband, you will immediately be told about Carrara. For him it is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Italy. Traveling along the Tuscan coast the last thing one expects to see is stark, white-topped mountains in the middle of summer. The white of these mountains is not snow – it is marble. The famous white Carrara marble highly desired for kitchens and bathrooms around the world. 

Driving up the mountain the ancient roads and 600-year-old tunnels lead visitors to sit in the very place Michelangelo did for eight months while he waited for the perfect piece of marble to carve Pietà, now housed in St. Peter’s Basilica. He often complained of growing bored waiting, but I can promise you a daytrip will not disappoint.

There are no barriers along the route, so it is acceptable to drive right up to the dust and debris left from mining the marble. From these vantage points you are up close and personal with the trucks and machines carving away this precious stone.

Further along the road you’ll find quaint little villages along the hillside offering amazing food, stunning views and enchanting architecture. It is a day filled with the real Italy, often hard to find in a country as frequented as Italy.

Read more about Carrara at SoOffWeGo. 

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