The Carrara marble quarries are one of the best day trips from Levanto and the Cinque Terre when you want a change from the crowds. They are in the Apuan Alps, less than an hour by car from Levanto or 40 to 50 minutes by train to Massa or Carrara-Avenza, and guided 4x4 tours run every day, by reservation, in the morning and in the afternoon.
What you see on a Carrara marble quarry tour
We visited with Gabriele and Heike of Cave di Marmo Tours. A guided tour takes you up the white marble truck trails in a dark green Land Rover Defender, to the places where the stone is still cut in the open air. Gabriele explained that white marble has been used since ancient Rome and that these mountains have supplied marble to the world for centuries. Here marble is not just the excavation or processing of a stone: it is the history of a territory and its people.
The drive uphill along the shiny white truck trail is impressive, with a stunning view of the Tuscan coastline and the islands of Gorgona and Capraia. During the tour you even get to stand where James Bond stood while filming Quantum of Solace.
You learn how open-air excavation works, how simple the techniques still are and how hard and dangerous it is to move the white marble blocks from the Apuan Alps to the sea. This small, rich world is something extraordinary and unique, and well worth a visit.
Winter at the quarries: vivid colours and a clear horizon
Winter is a great time to go too. In our experience the air is often clearer, the colours look even more vivid and the horizon is sharp, so the views over the Tuscan coast are at their best. On the clearest days you can even see Corsica. Tours run every day, also in winter and in the rain, unless there is a weather alert. Dress in warm layers, as it is cooler and windier up in the quarries.
A stop in Colonnata: Lardo di Colonnata
After the tour we made a yummy pitstop in Colonnata, a lovely village in this marble valley. Here they traditionally produce the delicious Lardo di Colonnata, a type of cold meat made by curing strips of fatback with rosemary and other herbs and spices.
Lardo has been made in this tiny hamlet since Roman times, and the recipe is always the same: strips of fatback with rosemary, other herbs and spices and sea salt are cured for six months in basins made of local white marble.
Lardo di Colonnata is included in the Ark of Taste catalogue of heritage foods and has had IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) status since 2004. Once you taste it, it is almost impossible to leave without buying some.
Practical information for the Carrara marble quarry tour
- Operator: Cave di Marmo Tours, run by Gabriele and Heike.
- When: every day, by reservation, with departures at 9:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.
- Duration: about three hours.
- Meeting point: the train station (Massa or Carrara-Avenza) or the highway exit in Carrara.
- From Levanto: less than an hour by car, or 40 to 50 minutes by train.
- Prices and booking: check current rates and book on the operator’s website.
We highly recommend this visit. Wear sunglasses, as the marble is really oh so white, and do not forget your camera.
Stay in Levanto
Levanto is a relaxed base for the quarries and the Cinque Terre, and Oasi Eco Boutique Hotel is open all year. For the best direct conditions, book on our official website, see how direct booking compares with Booking.com on the book direct page, or contact us on WhatsApp at +39 0187 807356 or by email at info@oasihotel.eu.
Frequently asked questions
How far are the Carrara marble quarries from Levanto?
Less than an hour by car, or 40 to 50 minutes by train to Massa or Carrara-Avenza, where the tour can meet you.
How long does the Carrara marble quarry tour last?
About three hours, with departures at 9:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.
Can I visit the quarries in winter?
Yes. Tours run every day, also in winter and in the rain, unless there is a weather alert. In our experience winter makes the colours more vivid and the horizon sharper.
Do I need to book the tour?
Yes, tours run by reservation. Check current rates and book with Cave di Marmo Tours at cavedimarmotours.com.
Where does the tour meet?
At the train station (Massa or Carrara-Avenza) or at the highway exit in Carrara.
What is Lardo di Colonnata?
A cured fatback seasoned with rosemary, herbs, spices and sea salt and aged for six months in local white marble basins. It has had IGP status since 2004 and is made in Colonnata, a short stop from the quarries.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
