Carrara (Italy)

Carrara is a port city in Tuscany (Italy), best known worldwide for the high-quality marble quarried there. The town is on Carrione River, at approx 100 km (62 mi) west-northwest of Florence. Carrara has total area 71 km2 (27 mi2) and population around 64,000.

As cruise port to Florence and Pisa, Carrara is an alternative to Port Livorno, from where these popular tourist cities are also accessed via shore excursions/bus tours.

Settlements in this area were known since the early 9th century BC. The town later originated from the borough built for the quarry workers. At the end of 19th century Carrara became Italy's cradle of anarchism, in particular among quarry workers. The quarry workers, including stone carvers, had radical beliefs which set them apart from others. Carrara is the birthplace of IFA (International Federation of Anarchists), formed in 1968.

The marble quarries were created by the Romans in the early 2nd century BC. Since that time, Carrara is associated with marble quarrying and carving. Marble blocks were exported from the Luni harbor at Magra River's mouth.

Carrara marble was used for the construction of Rome's Pantheon and Trajan's Column. In addition to the quarries, Carrara also features a Fine Arts Academy and an antiquities museum. A marble technology fair is hosted here each year. Here is sculpted also marble imported from other quarries.

Among Carrara's best tourist attractions are Duomo (12th-century Cathedral), Ducal Palace (16th-century), Cybo-Malaspina Palace (16th-century), San Francesco Church (16th-century), Santa Maria Assunta Church (15th-century).

Carrara cruise terminal