Things to see in Carrara

Carrara is a city of 60,000 people (2020) in Tuscany that is famous for its marble. The extraction of marble in Carrara has been documented since ancient times. Today's city of Carrara, located at the foot of the Apennines, was founded in the 11th century and marble quarrying resumed in the 12th century. Over the centuries the city of Carrara has expanded towards the sea, where today most of the population is located. Starting from the 19th century, the village of Marina di Carrara was built on the seashore as a summer resort. Marble quarrying and processing is still the dominant industry.

Palazzo Cybo Malaspina (Ducal Palace). It is a complex of buildings consisting of an early medieval castle to which a stately palace was added in the Renaissance period. The Castle (or Rocca) has very ancient origins and was built on previous fortifications perhaps dating back to the Byzantine-Lombard period. The Renaissance Palace was added in 1519 and enlarged by his son Alberico I in 1557. The Castle-Palace became the seat of the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara in 1806, making it one of the oldest in Italy and in Europe. The building still presents itself today with two distinct views: the west and south-west sides show a characteristic Renaissance architecture, corresponding to the more recent Prince's Palace, while the east side still retains the ancient medieval style of the original castle. Antica Città di Luni (Luni Museum and Archaeological Zone).

Squares and streets: Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square).