The Alpi Apuane mountain range rises on Lucca’s horizon. Michelangelo and numerous other artists and architects travelled here to select the region’s prized Carrara marble to work with. Today we will go to the source of that same precious stone.
In the small town of Seravezza we will visit our first Medici villa, built for Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici.
After a group lunch in the tiny mountain village of Pruno, we will drive to a marble quarry high in the hills above Carrara. Here we will see the purity of the stone close up and learn about the incredible feats of engineering involved in cutting, lowering and transporting the massive blocks to where they could be transformed into the artistic and architectural wonders that adorn Italy, some of which we will have seen on this tour.
Pietrasanta is a lovely town in the foothills with Roman and Medieval origins. Today it is known as a centre for art, particularly sculpture, with many galleries open to the public. After free time here, we will enjoy a group dinner at a country restaurant before heading back to Lucca.
Total drive time today: 3 hours 45 minutes.
Accommodation: 2nd night at Hotel Ilaria, Lucca.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Gallery
