Carrara the town of Quarries - CVB Versilia Costa Apuana

THE WHITE MARBLE QUARRIES - CARRARA
Fantiscritti marble basin, the Vara Bridges
The visit to the three marble quarries of
torano, Fantiscritti and Colonnata i a
unique and unforgettable experience.
Along the route of the former Rilway line
visitros can take a spectacular trip,
driving on the bridges called Ponti di
Vara and under the fascinating tunnerls
dug into the rock, towards the discovery
of those quarries expoloited even before
the Romans for the white marble that is
famous all over the world. From the
imperial perios till the Sixties, when the
first roads of communication were built,
the blocks of marble were carried
downhill with the dangerous method of
“lizzatura”: over carts dragged by oxen
along the Via Carraia the marble reached
the harbour of Luni.
The quarrying techniques in use up to
the 18° century had not changed since
the Roman age. A relevant change was
registered only with the introduction of
explosive and black powder and, later
on, of the helical thread and the
diamond cutting chains. The large
number of hand-made marblel pieces,
inscriptions on marble and findings
discovered in the quarries are on display
at the Civica Marble Museum. If you
want to visit the three marble fields and
admire the famous white marble quarries
at close quarters, you can ask for
personalized tours.
WHITE MARBLE QUARRIES
MICHELANGELO QUARRY

CAVA RAVACCIONE
On Carrara’s mountains rise in a ring the
small towns of the quarry-workers, which
have always been linked with the activity
of processing the marble extracted form
the Apuan Alps. CODENA, BERGIOLA,
BEDIZZANO, COLONNATA, MISEGLIA,
TORANO and, located on the state road
n.446 towards the Apuan Park,
SORGNANO, GRAGNANA, NOCETO, and
the old hamlet of CASTELPOGGIO
The Ravaccione Quarry. You can live
the experience to walk in a moon
landscape, known as the Marble
Cathedral. The Ravaccione Quarry is an
underground quarry, in the heart of a
mountain. You take a small bus for the
first 600 mt, then you will be lead through
CAVA RAVACCIONE ART EXHIBITION
the path, where you can see the equipments used and a guide will explain the steps for the marble processing.
Cava 177. you can visit one of the most ancient white marble quarries and relive the history of this extraordinary
stone. The quarry is on the road to Colonnata on the crossroad between Fantiscritti and Colonnata.

COLONNATA AND ITS QUARRIES…
Colonnata (532 m above sea level ) is an ancient village, and a frazione in the comune of Carrara. It is situated in
the Apuan Alps, and is known worldwide for the pork fat delicacy Lardo di Colonnata, and for its marble quarries.
Colonnata is located in the Apuan Alps (mounts Maggiore, Spallone and Sagro), and is accessible by the road that
passes through the villages of Vezzala and Bedizzano. The village is surrounded by quarries in an area known as
"Gioia Calagio", which includes the Gioia Pit, which produces the arabescato and bardiglio varieties of veined marble.
The quarry was also used in ancient times, as evidenced by the finds of coins, inscriptions engraved directly on the
rock, and a relief of the Roman tutelary deity Silvanus. The largest Roman quarrying site yet discovered was one
kilometre south at Fossacava. Colonnata's history dates back to its settlement, around 40 BC. It was built for the
housing of slaves used in quarrying marble after Rome decided to replace expensive imported Greek marble with local
(Luni) marble.The name of the settlement is believed derived from the Latin word columna, indicating the place
where columns of marble were extracted to be sent to Rome, but the origin of the name could also be the Latin collis
("hill") or columen ( "top"). The quarries may also have been used by the Ligurian Apuani tribe, who were perhaps
also used later as quarrying experts. Evidence of mining activity dating back to the 6th century BC has been found at
"Fossa Carbonera", Fantiscritti. Based on a stone found in 1810 bearing the names of the consuls of the years 16 - 22
AD, it appears that the settlement was run by settlers and a magistrate, all of servile origin, who oversaw the work.
Additional records date back only to the 13th century, while the church of the village is believed to date back to the
12th century. It's possible, however, that in the Middle Ages Colonnata was used as a defensive stronghold for those
who controlled these areas after the Roman Empire (the Byzantines, the Goths and Lombards).

The village is still mainly supported by
mining. The breeding of pigs, promoted
by the abundance of chestnut trees, was
introduced to Colonnata, perhaps by the
Lombards. Over time, this industry
evolved, in particular processing freshly
slaughtered meat, which was used as
bread spread by the quarrymen, thus
starting the traditional production the
famous pork fat delicacy, Lardo di
Colonnata..The village has maintained
some of its historic features, such as the
use of marble in murals, doorways,
doorjambs, windows and other
architectural features. Also to be seen are
the north gate into the town, which
belonged to the medieval city walls now
gone; a yard paved in marble located at
the far south end of town;
COLONNATA VILLAGE
the Piazza Palestro, which leads to a modern
sculpture dedicated to Cristo dei Cavatori
("Christ of the Quarrymen");
and the stone bell tower with a view and a
clock.The sixteenth-century San Bartolomeo
parish church has a marble interior, including a
main altar in white marble, side altars in multicoloured
marble, a marble relief depicting the
Assumption of Mary into heaven among the
saints, preserved fragments of an ancon from
the altar of Saints Andrew, Bartholomew and
Peter, and a 17th century marble crucifix
attributed to a pupil of Michelangelo.
COLONNATA: LARDERIE - LARD SHOPS
COLONNATA: LARDERIE
COLONNATA: QUARRIES

LARD OF COLONNATA
The Lard of Colonnata is a typical pork product
of Carrara. Unique for its particular salting and for its
curing in marble tubes, the Lard of Colonnatata is
a protected geographical identification(P.G.I.)
product. It is taken from the layer of hard fat along the
pig's back and normally only Tuscan porks are used.
This fine salami is made from pork lard which is cured in
local Carrara marble. Layers of lard are alternated
with herbs such as pepper, cinnamon, cloves,
coriander, sage and rosemary. The marble used is
rubbed also rubbed with garlic and the maturation
time can last anything from 6 to 10 months. This
delicious salami is still made in this traditional way
which gives it its soft consistency and sweet flavour,
enriched by the herbs and spices used in the
preparation. It should be served just melting on hot
pieces of toast. Lardo di Colonnata is now included in
the Ark of Taste catalogue of heritage foods as
well as enjoying IGP (Protected Geographical
Indication) status.
LARDO DI COLONNATA
LARDO &
LARDO NELLE CONCHE DI MARMO

PHOTOGALLERY

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CARRARA
COLONNATA
COLONNATA QUARRIES
FANTISCRITTI QUARRIES
TORANO QUARRIES
RAVACCIONE QUARRY
Piazza Mazzini - Palazzo delle Muse -
Viareggio - Tuscany - Italy
Ph.+39 0584 48 881 fax.+39 0584 47 406
www.versiliacostapuanaconvention.it
e-mail cvb@aptversilia.it