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Guided itinerary of Carrara marble mines, Colonnata and Carrara town center.

Minivan private guided excursion for foodies. Taste the real flavors of the quarrymen’s food and learn more about the local cuisine.

Tour details

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.

Type of tour: Private tour with English speaking driver-guide or tour guide, I do not arrange shared tours.

Suitable for: individuals, small and large groups.

Transportation: 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.

Duration: half day (3 hrs) – Full day (7 hrs).

Activity Level: moderate (easy pace, walk for short distances in a flat).

Advised clothing: comfortable shoes and clothes, no moccasins or high heels because of walking partly in the dirty or in muddy places. Sunglasses, hat/cap, sunscreen are advised during the Summer. Before the tour will be provided hardhat and orange vest according to the in force safety rules.

Meeting place: Carrara train station or highway exit. On request transfer service can be arranged from your accommodation.

Prices:

Half day tour small groups (max 3 hrs):

• • 1/2 persons € 160
  • 3/4 persons € 200
  • 5/6 persons € 240
  • 7/8 persons € 300
  • The eventual 4×4 ride is not included in the price.
  • Eventual visit of the underground quarry is not included. The ticket costs € 10,00 pp

Full day tour (max 7 hrs) quotation on request.

Family groups 10% discount

For large groups quotation on request.

Tour features:

• • English speaking driver-guide adhering to the Travel Safely Project.
  • Private minivan transportation.
  • In-depth information about 2000 years of excavation and transportation of Carrara marble.
  • Visit an open cast marble quarry.
  • Ride until (almost) 1000 mt. altitude to enjoy breathtaking scenarios.
  • Visit an outdoor exhibition of tools and equipment used for the excavation and transportation of marble.
  • Visit Colonnata, learn more about the curing and seasoning of its lardo and experience local specialties.
  • On request, even lunches, wine, and food tastings, and other services can be arranged. In this case, organization and invoicing will be done by Viaggi & Dintorni travel agency.

Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary that can be modified according to your wishes or interests, in order to make you experience local flavors that will bring to life and make the day memorable.

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) let’s move to Colonnata, the oldest quarrymen’s village, home of one of the local delicacies: the lardo di Colonnata. It is pig’s back-fat seasoned and cured in marble tubs………simply unmissable!  Lastly, drive down to Carrara town center and taste some farinata (cheek-pee flan).

This is roughly the program of a half day tour, if you wish to extend it to a full day tour, you might add:

• • Lunch in Colonnata (the oldest quarrymen village).
  • Have a 3 hrs sculpting class in a marble workshop. The master teaches you how to make your own marble work with hammer and chisel.
  • Visit Carrara town center.
  • Visit marble workshops where floors, table tops, kitchen counters, etc etc are made
  • Move to Lucca or Pisa and visit one of those beautiful towns.