Marble Quarry Florence Italy

The carrara marble quarries sit on the carrione river in the massa carrara province of tuscany.

Marble quarry florence italy.

A look at how the stone is wrenched from the earth. In the 17th and 18th centuries the marble quarries were monitored by the cybo and malaspina families who ruled over massa and carrara. The family created the office of marble in 1564 to regulate the marble mining industry. The city of massa in particular saw much of its plan.

Learn more about tuscany in this article. My strength is in the wheel. The nearest city is carrara but day trips usually depart from la spezia or florence. Touring the marble mines in the apuan alps in northern tuscany is an incredible visual experience which is why the location was chosen for the chase scene in the james bond film quantum of solace.

The quarries among the marble crests of the. Michelangelo opened them in 1518 for his never completed facade of the san lorenzo church in florence. Carrara k ə ˈ r ɑːr ə kə rar ə italian. Michelangelo travelled to the alpi apuane to choose his marble and eventually to open up rival quarries to those of carrara for his patrons the medici.

Especially when visiting florence with its david or pietà by michelangelo or other masterpieces by arnolfo donatello pisano and more realizing all the work and risks involved before art actually starts is extremely. The renaissance was boom time for carrara. Visit carrara and its impressive marble quarries. It is on the carrione river some 100 kilometres 62 mi west northwest of florence its motto is fortitudo mea in rota latin.

Leave florence and discover some of the most beautiful places in italy. Discovering the carrara marble quarries has given a completely new dimension to our way of appreciating stone sculptures. A luminary of italy s arte povera. Join us for the ultimate adventure as we set out to explore some amazing attractions near florence to discover some of the most beautiful places in tuscany.

Carrara marble has been used since the time of ancient rome and it was called the luni marble. There is no public transportation to the quarries so the most convenient way to visit is by joining a small group tour or shore excursion. The majestic marble quarries of northern italy fueled by insatiable demand in the gulf states the italian marble trade is booming. The major city in the region is florence.

Tuscany region west central italy. Marble was de rigueur in florence venice and rome and there was plenty of money being invested in art.