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Carrara: journey into the marble capital
DESCRIPTION
Not to be missed is the Malaspina Castle and the Apuan Alps Park
Carrara is the world capital of marble and the centre of the marble industrial sector. It is situated on the Ligurian Sea, in northwestern Tuscany. Together with Massa, it gives the name to the province of Massa-Carrara, which spreads from the sea to the Apuan Alps. In the south it borders Versilia (in the province of Lucca); to the east it borders the cities of Reggio Emilia and Parma; and to the in northwest it borders La Spezia. The city, well known at the international level for its white marble quarries, is situated in a key point of transports that make the city easy to reach.
In the past, many of the mountain villages of Carrara based their economy on agricultural–pastoral activities, like for example Castelpoggio. Other villages such as Colonnata, Torano and Bedizzano, instead, based their economies on marble extraction. This is particularly true of Bedizzano, which in the sixteenth century was the summer residence of the Cybo Malaspina Family. In the nearby valley, the most ancient city is Avenza.
A VIEW OF THE OLD TOWN CENTRE
Fine Art Academy – Carrara Malaspina Castle (XI century)
The old castle of Carrara meant autonomy of the town from the rule of the Bishops of Luni. In fact, in the thirteenth century, the laymen of the town reorganized its military defenses, and fortified the Rocca. Subsequent transformations turned the Fortress into a splendid seigniorial residence, next to the Palace of Prince Alberico Cybo-Malaspina (16th century). This building became the location of the Fine Art Academy in 1805. The palazzo of the Academy stands on the piazza of the same name, and the facade has a prevalent baroque seventeenth-century style, large windows and a big portal decorated with many marble inserts.
Info: only the exterior can be visited. For further information: Town Hall, tel. 0585641394/422; infoturismo@comune.carrara.ms.it
Academy, tel. 058571658 www.accademiacarrara.it
Duomo di Carrara (11th century)
The pieve di Sant'Andrea Apostolo, around which the town of Carrara developed, was mentioned for the first time in a notary’s deed dated 1035. It is built entirely of marble, and was constructed in several phases. Of the original edifice, built at the end of the 11th century, some sculptures and the portal with the capitals remain. This was followed by a second phase of construction (around the middle of the 12th century) in a Romanesque style, which can still be seen today in the internal colonnade and in the lower parts of the façade and side walls. The top part of the facade, with its fine portico containing stepped arches and impressive rosette, is Gothic (second half of the fourteenth century). The rectangular layout with a semicircular apse has three naves. The central nave is significantly higher and has a trussed roof, while the lateral naves have cross vaults. The interior is very picturesque, with roof arches on columns featuring a variety of capitals, rich with marble and prestigious works.
OUTSIDE THE CENTRE
Civic Marble Museum
Built in 1982, on the initiative of the Municipal Authorities of Carrara, this museum contains artifacts and documents on the marble culture.
It is organized in six indoor sections, while outside there is an area with an interdisciplinary approach that gives the visitor a detailed and charming view of the local heritage featuring: “Roman archaeology and history of the territory” with precious historical finds from the quarries, the richest “Marbleteque” in Italy, “Industrial Archaeology” with machines and instruments for extracting and working marble from Roman times to today; “ Technical Applications” with examples of art design, the “Plaster casts” and reproduction of marble icons for the substitutive restoration of works and “Modern Sculpture” with precious works in marble, bronze, wood and other materials.
Info: Carrara Museum, v.le XX Settembre, loc. Stadio
tel. and fax: 0585845746
email: museomarmo@amiatelfree.it
Marina di Carrara
It is located on the sea and 7 km from the centre of Carrara. Modern and dynamic, rich in pinewoods and green areas, it is the typical tourist location that offers top-notch bathing establishments.
Moneta: the “Borgo” and the Castle (11th century)
The first mention of the existence of Moneta dates back to 1035.
It was part of a complex system of defense that controlled the valley of the Carrione torrent. When these functions were no longer necessary, the site was abandoned by its inhabitants, who took up residence in the town of Fossola. The building fell into ruin at the beginning of the nineteenth century. From the ruins of the 16th century church, the Chiesa di San Giovanni, a gate leads to the heart of the fortified town: a path runs alongside what remains of the towers, the walls and the bastions. At the moment, the Rocca is being renovated. This fortress has an impressive keep and a defensive wall protected by a moat.
Avenza: Torre di Castruccio Castracani (14th century)
The town of Avenza is mentioned in documents as far back as the 11th century, but it may be even older. Its strategic location along the communication routes favoured the development of the stronghold. The construction of the defensive works under the supervision of Castruccio Castracani were started in the early 14th century. Perhaps this famous condottiere used pre-existing structures to enlarge the building, but certainly, the present tower dates back to this period.
HILLSIDE TOWNS
Bedizzano
It was the summer residence of Prince Alberico Cybo. It is a town characterized by seigniorial buildings, city walls and many treasures.
Castelpoggio
Traces of a medieval village still remained today.
Colonnata
Characterized by the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo and by the houses’ marble portals, the town is well known for its traditional food shops that produce and sell the famous Colonnata Lard.
Torano
With its particular urban structure and the elegant Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, it was visited by Michelangelo and Donatello, who came here to buy marble for their works.
NATURE AND THE ROUTES
The Park of the Apuan Alps
The Apuan Alps are unique due their geo-morphological and naturalistic features: the mountain range is roughly 60 km long and runs along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the zones of the Versilia, Lunigiana and Garfagnana. The area is famous for the beauty of its marble and deep chasms, the large cavities in the karstic subsurface and the different types of rocks that create a variety of contrastino environments favouring rich flora and fauna in the territory. Things to see in the park, amongst other places of interest, are: the old village of Casola in Lunigiana and the Museum of the Territory of the Alta Valle Aulella; Equi Terme (Fivizzano) featuring caves and the hot springs; the Canyon of the Solco d’Equi; the town and the Vinca valley; the town of Colonnata di Carrara, the marble quarry area and the museum-quarry of Fantiscritti.
Information: via Corrado del Greco, 11 55047 Seravezza (LU)
Tel.: 0584756144
Website: www.parcapuane.it
FOOD AND WINE
Among the traditional products of the area, there is the the Colonnata Lard, spiced with aromatic herbs of Apuan Alps, matured and preserved in marble containers; bread, hand-made and baked in wood-burning ovens, according to the ancient traditions; wild herbs are the main elements for polenta incatenata, prepared with corn meal, wild herbs and black-eyed beans. Taglierini with beans is one of the main dishes of the past. Let us not forget the types of pasta: lasagne, stringoni (tagliatelle), topeti (gnocchi) and the wonderful tordelli. Other important dishes are: tripe, marinated dried salt cod, stockfish and potatoes, and many other Carrara dishes. Traditional cakes and sweets are: rice pie, frisòli (rice fritters), fugaza (a typical focaccia with raisins, pine nuts and fennel seeds), castagnaccio and frittelle di farina di castagne (chestnut fritters) with ricotta.
Source: APT Massa Carrara
In the past, many of the mountain villages of Carrara based their economy on agricultural–pastoral activities, like for example Castelpoggio. Other villages such as Colonnata, Torano and Bedizzano, instead, based their economies on marble extraction. This is particularly true of Bedizzano, which in the sixteenth century was the summer residence of the Cybo Malaspina Family. In the nearby valley, the most ancient city is Avenza.
A VIEW OF THE OLD TOWN CENTRE
Fine Art Academy – Carrara Malaspina Castle (XI century)
The old castle of Carrara meant autonomy of the town from the rule of the Bishops of Luni. In fact, in the thirteenth century, the laymen of the town reorganized its military defenses, and fortified the Rocca. Subsequent transformations turned the Fortress into a splendid seigniorial residence, next to the Palace of Prince Alberico Cybo-Malaspina (16th century). This building became the location of the Fine Art Academy in 1805. The palazzo of the Academy stands on the piazza of the same name, and the facade has a prevalent baroque seventeenth-century style, large windows and a big portal decorated with many marble inserts.
Info: only the exterior can be visited. For further information: Town Hall, tel. 0585641394/422; infoturismo@comune.carrara.ms.it
Academy, tel. 058571658 www.accademiacarrara.it
Duomo di Carrara (11th century)
The pieve di Sant'Andrea Apostolo, around which the town of Carrara developed, was mentioned for the first time in a notary’s deed dated 1035. It is built entirely of marble, and was constructed in several phases. Of the original edifice, built at the end of the 11th century, some sculptures and the portal with the capitals remain. This was followed by a second phase of construction (around the middle of the 12th century) in a Romanesque style, which can still be seen today in the internal colonnade and in the lower parts of the façade and side walls. The top part of the facade, with its fine portico containing stepped arches and impressive rosette, is Gothic (second half of the fourteenth century). The rectangular layout with a semicircular apse has three naves. The central nave is significantly higher and has a trussed roof, while the lateral naves have cross vaults. The interior is very picturesque, with roof arches on columns featuring a variety of capitals, rich with marble and prestigious works.
OUTSIDE THE CENTRE
Civic Marble Museum
Built in 1982, on the initiative of the Municipal Authorities of Carrara, this museum contains artifacts and documents on the marble culture.
It is organized in six indoor sections, while outside there is an area with an interdisciplinary approach that gives the visitor a detailed and charming view of the local heritage featuring: “Roman archaeology and history of the territory” with precious historical finds from the quarries, the richest “Marbleteque” in Italy, “Industrial Archaeology” with machines and instruments for extracting and working marble from Roman times to today; “ Technical Applications” with examples of art design, the “Plaster casts” and reproduction of marble icons for the substitutive restoration of works and “Modern Sculpture” with precious works in marble, bronze, wood and other materials.
Info: Carrara Museum, v.le XX Settembre, loc. Stadio
tel. and fax: 0585845746
email: museomarmo@amiatelfree.it
Marina di Carrara
It is located on the sea and 7 km from the centre of Carrara. Modern and dynamic, rich in pinewoods and green areas, it is the typical tourist location that offers top-notch bathing establishments.
Moneta: the “Borgo” and the Castle (11th century)
The first mention of the existence of Moneta dates back to 1035.
It was part of a complex system of defense that controlled the valley of the Carrione torrent. When these functions were no longer necessary, the site was abandoned by its inhabitants, who took up residence in the town of Fossola. The building fell into ruin at the beginning of the nineteenth century. From the ruins of the 16th century church, the Chiesa di San Giovanni, a gate leads to the heart of the fortified town: a path runs alongside what remains of the towers, the walls and the bastions. At the moment, the Rocca is being renovated. This fortress has an impressive keep and a defensive wall protected by a moat.
Avenza: Torre di Castruccio Castracani (14th century)
The town of Avenza is mentioned in documents as far back as the 11th century, but it may be even older. Its strategic location along the communication routes favoured the development of the stronghold. The construction of the defensive works under the supervision of Castruccio Castracani were started in the early 14th century. Perhaps this famous condottiere used pre-existing structures to enlarge the building, but certainly, the present tower dates back to this period.
HILLSIDE TOWNS
Bedizzano
It was the summer residence of Prince Alberico Cybo. It is a town characterized by seigniorial buildings, city walls and many treasures.
Castelpoggio
Traces of a medieval village still remained today.
Colonnata
Characterized by the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo and by the houses’ marble portals, the town is well known for its traditional food shops that produce and sell the famous Colonnata Lard.
Torano
With its particular urban structure and the elegant Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, it was visited by Michelangelo and Donatello, who came here to buy marble for their works.
NATURE AND THE ROUTES
The Park of the Apuan Alps
The Apuan Alps are unique due their geo-morphological and naturalistic features: the mountain range is roughly 60 km long and runs along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the zones of the Versilia, Lunigiana and Garfagnana. The area is famous for the beauty of its marble and deep chasms, the large cavities in the karstic subsurface and the different types of rocks that create a variety of contrastino environments favouring rich flora and fauna in the territory. Things to see in the park, amongst other places of interest, are: the old village of Casola in Lunigiana and the Museum of the Territory of the Alta Valle Aulella; Equi Terme (Fivizzano) featuring caves and the hot springs; the Canyon of the Solco d’Equi; the town and the Vinca valley; the town of Colonnata di Carrara, the marble quarry area and the museum-quarry of Fantiscritti.
Information: via Corrado del Greco, 11 55047 Seravezza (LU)
Tel.: 0584756144
Website: www.parcapuane.it
FOOD AND WINE
Among the traditional products of the area, there is the the Colonnata Lard, spiced with aromatic herbs of Apuan Alps, matured and preserved in marble containers; bread, hand-made and baked in wood-burning ovens, according to the ancient traditions; wild herbs are the main elements for polenta incatenata, prepared with corn meal, wild herbs and black-eyed beans. Taglierini with beans is one of the main dishes of the past. Let us not forget the types of pasta: lasagne, stringoni (tagliatelle), topeti (gnocchi) and the wonderful tordelli. Other important dishes are: tripe, marinated dried salt cod, stockfish and potatoes, and many other Carrara dishes. Traditional cakes and sweets are: rice pie, frisòli (rice fritters), fugaza (a typical focaccia with raisins, pine nuts and fennel seeds), castagnaccio and frittelle di farina di castagne (chestnut fritters) with ricotta.
Source: APT Massa Carrara
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