Discover Carrara: The City of Marble

Discover Carrara: The City of Marble

Carrara is a small city famously known as the “city of marble”. Located in the Italian province of Tuscany, Carrara is not that far up north from Forte dei Marmi. The city of marble is remarkable for its white colored marble varieties, modern sculptures, and widely known masterpieces. Most known for its white calacatta marble, it has also provided marble for some of the world’s greatest sculptors, such as Michelangelo and Henry Moore.

The word Carrara comes from the ancient pre-latin word “kar”, which means stone. This wonderful, but not widely know area to tourists, has a long historic tradition connected with white marble. The prestigious fame and international recognition comes from the production of what is considered the finest white marble in the world. Whoever visits the city, will notice sculptures, doors, flower vases, all made from marble. Did you know that the Duomo, Carrara’s stunning marble cathedral is almost entirely built out of marble? Impressive, isn’t it!

While visiting, I stumbled upon a recreation of Michelangelo’s David, re-imagined as a contemporary art sculpture. Created from a statuary block of Carrara marble, the sculpture is covered with colorful tattoos and lettering. The replica statue is of the same size as the original, and uses the same type of marble extracted from the mountains of Carrara that Michelangelo used to carve his original sculpture. Have you ever wondered how tall Michelangelo’s David is? The statue is five meters high, and weighs more than 5500 kg or 12,000 pounds.

The Piazza Alberica is in the heart of the city. It’s a typical Italian styled piazza, with a contemporary sculpture centerpiece and is surrounded by historical buildings of the noble families of Carrara. While sightseeing, don’t miss the opportunity to take a moment and enjoy in the Italian coffee culture by visiting a local bar and ordering an espresso.

A further walk through the narrow streets of the city did lead me to a pen store selling the prestigious Aurora fountain pens.

Forte dei Marmi: A Premier Luxury Travel Destination in Northern Italy

Forte dei Marmi: A Premier Luxury Travel Destination in Northern Italy

The city of Forte dei Marmi is becoming one of the top luxury travel destinations for many European tourists. Situated on the Italian Riviera Versila, Forte dei Marmi is a secret gem known for its beautiful soft white beaches. The city has its rich cultural environment intertwined with history and art & culture. I completely fell in love with the place and its prestigious looking villas, luxury shopping areas and gorgeous beaches.

Forte dei Marmi has been the place of residence for many artists, writers and other notable people, and is known as a popular celebrity summer destination. The city offers a rich lifestyle, a warm atmosphere and provides varied opportunities for enjoyment. From the crystal-clear waters to hiking up the stunning Apuan Alps, the city shows off a fraction of Tuscany’s extraordinary different landscapes.

This summer, I went on a vacation to Forte dei Marmi. It was a bit of a last-minute trip, so I did none of the usual months of planning that is advised to do. I often get lost in a huge pile of clothes I want to take with me, and with the rush of the last-minute trip, I had to wake up early to finish picking and choosing what to bring with me.

Upon my arrival in Forte dei Marmi it was already almost time for lunch, the sun was high in the sky so I decided to visit a luxury shopping area and have lunch in one of the local restaurants. During the early mornings and on gloomy days I went to the city center to explore and in the afternoon I would spend my time on the beach sunbathing. The turquoise blue water and well-organized beaches make a flawless background to capture beautiful pictures. My absolute favorite part of the day was when the sun started to set and the horizon turned golden. Forte dei Marmi hosts an array of restaurants serving local food. Many are situated on the beach and are perfect places for whiling away your evenings.