The famous Carrara marble has been mined since Roman times and has long been a favorite of sculptors, including Michelangelo. Fantiscritti Marble Quarries, or cave (pronounced cah-vey ), has a 50-minute 4 × 4 jeep tour that gives visitors a chance to see the quarries from inside and also includes a fantastic view from up high.
If you are in the Carrara area, in northern Tuscany, don’t miss out on this experience.
Inside the Carrara marble mines
The Carrara Marble Tour takes you on a fascinating walk through the quarries to get a closer look at the cliffs and marble mines. Near the top, you will come out and enjoy a spectacular view of the quarries, the city of Carrara and the coast. This is a much higher point than you can drive on your own.
Your guide will explain the history and uses of marble, the different types of marble, and how quarries work. You will see a working section of the mine, as well as the site where several Austin Martin passed by the cliff during the filming of the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace .
The interesting and scenic 50-minute tour is offered every day from March to November and is priced at 12 euros (as of 2019). A 3-4 hour option includes pickup and drop-off from your nearby hotel, time to tour the city of Carrara, plus a special breakfast of local specialties, including lardo di Colonnata, which is seasoned pork fat. This tour has a current price of 65 euros per person.
Carrara marble tour details
- Marble Cave di Fantiscritti Carrara Tour. Please visit the website for updated times and prices or to book a tour.
- The cost is 12 euros (as of 2019).
- Tours are 50 minutes long and can be taken in Italian, English or French.
- Note that during bad weather, the mines are not in operation.
- In the quarry parking area there is a museum, a gift shop, a restaurant and restrooms. In summer, there are minibus tours inside the mines.
- From Carrara, follow the signs for Cave and then Fantiscritti, going through a couple of marble tunnels.
If you have a car, it is possible to see some of the mining areas and visit the museum without taking a tour, although the tour is a highly recommended way to see the quarries up close and is worth the price for the incredible views alone.
Tourism near the marble quarries of Carrara
Very close to the marble quarries is the picturesque mining town of Colonnata, famous for producing lardo . Colonnata is a good place to eat with several restaurant options.
Carrara is located in the northern part of Tuscany known as Versilia which includes the three main cities of Carrara, Massa and Pietrasanta and a long stretch of coast where you will find beaches and the coastal town of Viareggio, famous for its carnival parades.
