The A12 Genova-Livorno Highway - exit Carrara easily leads you to Carrara Marble quarries which are worth visiting because of their amazing scenery produced by Man’s exploitation of these natural wonders.

Marble quarries in Colonnata
The first stop on the way to the marble beds generally leads to Colonnata (m532 above sea level), an old village founded to house the slaves extracting marble during the roman period. Colonnata’s marble quarries are the largest Apuan bed and they offer a unique view of the quarries waste areas on the side of Mounts Serrone Maggiore and Spallone. At the top of the homonymous mount there is Gioia bed: a group of quarries which has a unique view of the world.  

Marble quarries in Fantiscritti
You can get to the Fantiscritti quarries (m450 above sea level) by following the Carrione river up to Ponti di Vara.  At the end of the last century, the marble was transported by railways, now transformed into a road, going through the Galleria Vara. Fantiscritti was named by the discovery of a find from the roman age now kept in the Accademia in Carrara. It is a bass-relief with small shapes engraved on a steep slope of the rock. The marble extracted from this bed is called Bianco Chiaro del Battaglino and  Bianco Chiaro del Canal Grande, Statuario di Bettogli and  Bianco Ordinario di Fantiscritti.

Marble quarries in Ravaccione
Ravaccione marble quarries (m444 above sea level) start from Piastra (m267 above sea level) which you reach by following the Canale di Torano up to the Canale di Pescina. You can admire a wonderful view of the Ravaccione bed quarries from the Belvedere in Campocecina (m1200 above sea level)