Carrara

Carrara, city in north-central Italy, in Massa-Carrara province. Carrara lies on the Carrione river between the Apuan Alps and the Ligurian Sea, and is famous for the white marble that is to be found in the Fantiscritti, Ravaccione, and Colonnata valleys near the city. More than 300 marble quarries are located in these valleys, producing 500,000 tonnes of marble per year, which is exported for building and sculpture from the nearby port of Marina di Carrara on the Ligurian coast. Many of the quarries and stonemasons are open to visitors. Carrara marble has been famous since Roman times, and many famous sculptors including Michelangelo and Henry Moore have visited Carrara to buy marble. The town's Accademia di Belle Arti houses some fine examples of Carrara marble sculptures. The Cathedral of Sant' Andrea (11th-14th centuries) is a notable building. Population (1995) 66,088.