Carrara and the Michelangelo’s marble quarries tour, Colonnata lard tasting
Carrara and the Michelagelo’s marble.
Marble quarries, marble workshops,
Colonnata lard tasting.
5 hrs duration
Private excursion to Carrara marble mines and to a workshop of sculpture. Know more about the geology of marble, about the methods of excavation and transportation of marble throughout 2000 years, and the methods for making a marble work.
Itinerary
Meet the driver guide and depart to the marble quarries area, travel along paved roads through the marble valleys and climb almost to the top (almost 1000 mt. altitude – 3000 ft), from up there the views is simply breathtaking and will be easier to learn more about the geology of this unique white stone.
Visit an open cast marble quarry, from a safe spot (approx 20 mt. far from the operations) see the quarrymen at work in order to learn more about the modern methods of excavation.
Afterwards, let’s recap by exploring an open-air exhibition where are visible tools and equipment really useful for explaining both ancient and modern methods of excavation and transportation of marble since the ancient Romans until today.
After some free time to dedicate to the souvenir shops (optional) move into a workshop of sculpture (on weekdays and Saturday morning) where, by watching sculptors that are true highly skilled artisans at work in their studios, know more about “……the art of removing…”.
Visit Colonnata, ancient quarry-men’s village and home of lardo (pork’s cured back-fat) renown as a local delicacy. Snack lunch will be arranged with vegetable tarts, pickled vegetables, selection of local cold cuts and cheeses, dessert, wine and water.
After lunch, head back to the original departure.