Lucca Private Day Trip to Pietrasanta and the Cararra Marble Quarries

A personalised private tour from Lucca exploring the Carrara marble quarries, the sculpture town of Pietrasanta for the discerning traveller seeking an authentic Italian experience on a small group tour for up to 7 people with only the very best of English speaking driver guides. You will tour in comfort and style in a top of the range Mercedes minivan or sedan discovering Italy 'close up' as you travel into the heart of this incredible artistic area. Explore the open-air museum of Pietrasanta, follow in the footsteps of great artists such as Michelangelo, and delve into a sumptuous quarryman's lunch in the little village of Colonnata!

1. 1

   Pietrasanta

   2 hours

   Take the 45 minute drive to Pietrasanta; an old town of Roman origins rich in sculpting traditions and filled with workshops frequented by artists from all over the world. Visit the Bozzetti Sculpture Museum and get an insight into how artists make the marble come to life in a busy working artists studio (some studios may request a small entry fee). Relax with an Italian coffee in the Piazza del Duomo taking in local life alongside open air art and sculpture before travelling on up into the Carrara marble quarries

2. 2

   Marble Caves of Carrara

   3 hours

   An immense cultural and historical patrimony, these mountains were first exploited by Julius Caesar and have supplied artists from Michelangelo to Henry Moore. Choose from 2 tours. Visit the inside of a working quarry (10euro per person) where you are taken into the heart of the Apuan Alps to discover a marble cathedral carved deep inside the mountain. This is still an active quarry with working machinery and once inside you will see first-hand how marble is cut Or you may wish to join a 4x4 guided tour (10euro per person) travelling through a network of 30 open-air active quarries arriving at an altitude of almost 1000m above sea level. Here, the scenery is almost lunar with spectacular views across the sea. Your tour guide will tell you about methods and stages of excavation, from cutting to loading huge marble blocks on top of the trucks right in front of your eyes. It was here where the James Bond chase scene was filmed in Quantum of Solace.

3. 3

   Colonnata

   2 hours

   The perfect stop to enjoy lunch is in quarryman's village of Colonnata, renowned for its lard cured in huge marble vats.

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.