15Jan

Carrara Marble Quarries and Sculpture Workshop

By: umberto On: 15 January 2017 In: Marble quarries for individuals Comments: 0

Guided minivan tour for individuals to the Carrara marble quarries, the Fantiscritti quarry museum and to a sculpture workshop.

workshop of sculpture, marble artisan at work
marble quarries, Vara bridges
on top of the marble mountains
quarry museum, hand-saw for processing marble blocks
carrara marble mines, huge cutting face of an open cast quarry
carrara marble caves
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Highlights

  • English speaking driver-guide adhering to the Travel Safely Project.
  • Private transportation.
  • Ride up to (almost) 1000 m. altitude and to watch the working opencast marble quarries.
  • In-depth information about 2000 years of excavation and transportation of Carrara marble in the quarry museum.
  • Visit a workshop of sculpture.
  • Free time for the eventual visit to marble souvenir shops.
Info & Booking

Tour Details

  • Tour available all year round. Since the itinerary partly involves working areas, could be subjected to modifications according to the working conditions of the visited venues. On Sundays and holidays, the itinerary could be modified.
  • Private tour with English speaking driver-guide, I do not arrange shared tours.
  • Transportation with 7 or 8 seater minivan. I opted for a minivan after having a Land Rover. The 4×4 is more adventurous but the minivan guarantees more comfort, more legroom, wider windows, air conditioning and opportunity of pick up at your hotel. Anyway, on request, I can arrange a 4×4 ride.
  • Meeting place: Carrara train station or highway exit. On request pick-up/Drop-off service can be arranged from your accommodation.
  • Duration Half Day approx. 3 hrs – Full Day approx 6 hrs.
  • Activity Level, moderate (easy pace, walk for short distances in a flat).
  • Suitable for individuals and small groups. Bigger groups please contact me for a custom quotation.
  • Half Day Prices for 2,5 hrs service VAT included.
    1/4 people € 180
    5/8 people € 230
    4X4 tour quotation on request.
    Eventual visit of the underground quarry € 10,00 pp
    Families 10% discount
    Full Day Tours, on request quotation.
  • If you are a large group traveling by coach, we are able to organize tailored itineraires including even lunch and other services. In this case the technical organization and billing will be carried out by V&D Viaggi & Dintorni travel agency.
Info & Booking
  • Stay for lunch in Colonnata (home of the famus Lardo), in Carrara or by the sea.
  • Join a sculpture lesson: a piece of marble, hammer, chisel, an authentic craftsman sculptor, and your good will. At the end of the 3 hours you will have created your small Carrara marble work of art.
  • Have hiking experience or a bike tour on the marble mountains.
  • Visit one of the amazing places in the surroundings, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Florence and Tuscany.
  • Organizzazione tecnica di V&D Viaggi e Dintorni – Carrara

Guided visits by minivan for individuals to the Carrara marble quarries, the Fantiscritti quarry museum and to a sculpture workshop.

Private excursion to Carrara marble mines and to a workshop of art. Know more about the geology of marble, the methods of excavation and transportation of marble throughout 2000 years and the making a marble statue.

Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary that can be modified according to your wishes or interests, to make the Carrara marble quarries tour your “trip of a lifetime”.

Meet the driver guide and depart to the marble mines 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 such a unique white stone: Carrara marble.

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.

Afterward, 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…”.

Info & Booking