Page 324 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

322  CENTR AL IT AL Y

1 Carrara
Massa Carrara. * 200,000. V @
n Lungomare Vespucci 24 (0585 24
00 63). ( Mon.
Internationally renowned for its
marble quarries, Carrara’s almost
flawless white stone has been
prized for centuries by famous
sculptors from Michelangelo to
Henry Moore (the stone for
Michelangelo’s David came
from Carrara). The region’s 300
or more quarries date back to
Roman times, making this one A quarry in the marble-bearing hills around Carrara
of the oldest industrial sites in
continuous use in the world. during his visits to select blocks 2 Garfagnana
Many of the town’s marble- of marble. The town has some Lucca. V @ Castelnuovo di
sawing mills and workshops lovely corners to explore, in Garfagnana. n Via Cavalieri di Vittorio
welcome visitors, offering them particular the elegant Piazza Veneto, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
the chance to see the ways in Alberica. Most visitors head (0583 64 10 07).
which marble and quartz are for the stone quarries that are
worked. These techniques – open to the public at nearby A verdant, silent valley wedged
along with marble artifacts old Colonnata and at Fantiscritti between the Orecchiella moun-
and new – can be seen at the (take one of the regular town tains and the Alpi Apuane, the
Museo Civico del Marmo. buses or follow the signs to the Garfagnana region can be
Local marble is put to good “Cave di Marmo”). The latter explored from Seravezza, Barga
use in the town’s Duomo in features a small museum with or Castelnuovo di Garfagnana.
Piazza del Duomo, particularly displays of various marble While the town of Barga makes
in the fine Pisan-Romanesque quarrying techniques. the prettiest base, thanks to its
façade with its delicate rose tawny stone cathedral and
window. The cathedral square E Museo Civico del Marmo charming streets, Castelnuovo is
also contains Michelangelo’s Viale XX Settembre. Tel 0585 84 57 46. more convenient for drives and
house, used by the sculptor Open Mon–Sat. walks in the surrounding
mountains. San Pellegrino in
Alpe in the Orecchiella has a
fascinating folklore museum,
the Museo Etnografico. It is
easily seen in conjunction
with the Orto Botanico
Pania di Corfino at the
headquarters of the Parco
dell’Orecchiella at Pania di
Corfino, with its collection of
local Alpine trees.
To the west is the Parco
Naturale delle Alpi Apuane,
an area where spectacular
jagged peaks and wooded
valleys are criss-crossed by
hiking trails and scenic
mountain roads.
E Museo Etnografico
Via del Voltone 15, San Pellegrino
in Alpe. Tel 0583 64 90 72.
Open Tue–Sun (Jul & Aug: daily). &
Y Orto Botanico Pania di Corfino
Parco dell’Orecchiella. Tel 0583 64 49
11. Open May–Sep: daily.
Y Parco dell’Orecchiella
Centro Visitatori, Orecchiella. Tel 0583
61 90 02. Open Jun–Sep: 9am–7pm
The Parco Naturale delle Alpi Apuane on the edge of the Garfagnana daily; Apr, May & Oct: Sun only. 7
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

322-323_EW_Italy.indd 322 4/4/17 5:35 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Eyewitness Travel
LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template V2.1 (OpenType) “UK” LAYER
Catalogue template
(Source v2)
Date 5th October 2006
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm
Size 125mm x 217mm