The Carrara marble quarries had long been on my Italy bucket list, and seeing them in person was even more impressive than I expected. These working quarries high in the Apuan Alps look almost like snow-capped peaks, their quarried faces glistening with marble.
In this post I’m sharing how I visited, what the tour was like and some tips if you’re thinking of going yourself, whether that’s from Carrara, Pisa or even as a shore excursion from a cruise ship.
How to Visit the Carrara Marble Quarries
Tour options
- Although it is possible to visit some of the Carrara mine areas and the museum under your own steam, I recommend taking the tour. The views alone warrant the modest cost and you get to see the quarries close-up.
- Carrara Marble Tour offers a 50-minute excursion in Italian or English.
- There is also a 3 – 4-hour quarries tour, which includes an hour in Carrara city and a “Quarryman Breakfast”. A limited hotel transfer service is also included.
Costs and booking
- In 2026, the standard Carrara marble quarries tour costs 15 euros. The longer experience costs 65 euros.
- You don’t need to book in advance unless you are part of a group of at least 20 people.
What to bring and wear
The quarries sit at altitude where temperatures drop, so bring a jacket even in summer. The tour involves walking on uneven marble surfaces, so wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Trainers are fine; heels or flip-flops are not.
Don’t forget your camera. The views are extraordinary and photography is encouraged throughout the tour. A hat and sunglasses are useful as there’s little shade at the higher quarries.
Best Time to Visit
Tours operate year-round. Summer (June to September) gets you the best weather and longer days, but it’s also peak tourist season. Spring and autumn are quieter with mild temperatures.
My Experience of the Carrara Quarries Tour
I visited the Carrara marble quarries as a shore excursion from Livorno, a popular port of call on cruises of the Western Mediterranean. This experience included a return transfer from the port and the tour of the marble quarries by Carrara Marble Tour.
Staring at the parking lot at Fantiscritti, our guide and driver Pipo bundled us into a 4×4 and negotiated his way along a steep marble road to quarry n.83 Canalgrande Alto, one thousand metres above sea level.
The views from here over the Apuan-Versilian coastline and the Ligurian Sea were sensational.
The quarrying industry in Carrara directly employs about 1000 workers. Quarrymen are just that; the labour force is almost 100% male and working here is a tradition passed down through generations of local people.
There is a solitary female; the site’s Health & Safety manager. It takes a woman to keep this many men under control!
Marble is quarried at Carrara year-round, stopping only when heavy rain makes conditions on the access road dangerous.
This can be a hazardous occupation. Pipo told us that 14 people had died in the previous ten years. On a more positive note, the mine’s safety record is improving.
In the distance, we could see the quarrymen hard at work.
A large block of marble, a bancata, is cut from the ground and then split into smaller blocks with diamond chains. But small is a relative term as these blocks weigh in at 20 tonnes. The blocks are then taken to the harbour of Carrara for shipping to China where they are cut and processed.
Quarrying is hard work. At the end of our tour, we were served a quarryman’s breakfast: thinly sliced lardo di Colonnata (herb-infused pork fat aged in marble vats) washed down with red wine. Not my usual lunch, but when in Carrara…
If the Carrara quarries look familiar, that may be because they were featured in the opening car chase of the 2008 James Bond Quantum of Solace blockbuster (one of my favourite movies filmed in Italy).
I had one burning question at the end of the quarries tour; will the Carrara mines run out of marble?
With limitations on mining, it is thought that there will be Carrara marble for the next 400 – 600 years. Without these restrictions, Carrara may run out of marble within 200 years.
Why Carrara Marble is So Special
Carrara marble has been quarried since Ancient Roman times when it was called “Luna marble”. The deposits are close to the sea, making transportation easier in the days when marble was rolled down the mountain by hand.
This was the Renaissance’s raw material. Michelangelo made many trips here to select stone for his works, including David and the Pieta. You’ll find Carrara marble in cathedrals, sculptures and monuments across Italy, from the Pantheon in Rome to the cathedral in Orvieto.
White Carrara marble is prized for its purity and softness, making it ideal for sculpting. The blue-grey variety is harder and better suited for building.
How to Get to the Carrara Marble Quarries
The Carrara marble quarries are in Tuscany, around four miles northeast of Carrara city at the foot of the Apuan Alps.
By car
Driving is the easiest option and gives you flexibility to explore the area. From Pisa, head north on the A12 motorway towards Genoa. Take the Carrara exit and follow signs for “Cave” then “Fantiscritti”. The journey takes about an hour.
From Florence, it’s roughly 90 minutes via the A11 and A12 motorways. From Genoa, allow 90 minutes heading south on the A12.
There’s free parking at the Carrara Marble Tour office at Fantiscritti. The mountain roads are steep and winding but well maintained. Sat nav coordinates: 44.0789° N, 10.1039° E.
By train and bus
The nearest railway station is Carrara-Avenza on the Genoa-Pisa line. Regional trains run frequently from both cities, taking 30-40 minutes from Pisa or around an hour from La Spezia.
From Carrara-Avenza station, you’ll need to take a taxi to Fantiscritti (about 15 minutes, €20-25) as there’s no direct bus service to the quarries. Local buses run to Carrara town centre but not up to the quarry area.
As part of an organised tour
Several companies run day trips to the Carrara quarries from Florence, Pisa and Lucca. These typically include return transport and the quarries tour, often combined with a visit to Colonnata village or Pisa. Expect to pay €80-120 per person.
Cruise passengers docking at Livorno can book shore excursions that include the marble quarries. This is how I visited and it worked perfectly, with transfers included from the port.
From nearby towns
- From Pisa: 1 hour by car, 40 minutes by train to Carrara-Avenza then taxi
- From Lucca: 45 minutes by car
- From La Spezia: 30 minutes by car, 1 hour by train
- From Florence: 1.5 hours by car, 2+ hours by train
If you’re staying in the Cinque Terre, Carrara makes an excellent day trip and is closer than returning to Florence or Pisa.
Final Practical Tips
- Duration: Allow 2-3 hours including the tour
- What to bring: Comfortable shoes, jacket (it’s cooler at altitude)
- Photography: Allowed and encouraged
- Accessibility: Not suitable for those with mobility issues
- Combined visits: Consider pairing with Colonnata village
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.