Carrara’s marble caves

Every part of the territory of the Apuan Alps is characterised by the presence of immense veins of a precious marble, which is famous all over the world and whose mining, according to historical testimonies, dates back to at least 155 BC. A great portion of the Italian art history owes its centuries-old fame to the marble quarried in the Apuan Alps, starting from the many Christian buildings which were embellished with architectural decorations made of marble, speaking of which, we may mention, as far as Tuscany is concerned, the Baptistery of Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Campanile, the Cathedral and Baptistery of Pisa.

Nowadays, the caves are one of the most suggestive spot we can visit in Tuscany. There are many tours available, like a off road 4×4 trip in the stunning scenery of the Carrara marble basins, where some scenes of the James Bond Quantum of Solace film were shooted in 2008. But the marble it is not the only attraction: at the cave is produced the famous “Lardo di Colonnata”, a gastronomic speciality similar to the bacon but as white as the Carrara marble.