La Spezia Shore Excursion: Carrara Marble Quarries & Pietrasanta

Inside a working marble mountain, then through the studios where artists carved it into form

A 9-hour private shore excursion from La Spezia port takes you by Mercedes minivan to Pietrasanta's sculpture studios and the Carrara Marble Quarries, where you choose between descending into an active quarry or riding a 4x4 through 30 open-air sites at nearly 1,000 meters. An English-speaking driver/guide, bottled water and port pickup are included. Wine tasting and lunch are arranged separately, and some art studios charge a small entry fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pietrasanta and Carrara Quarries

• Drive to Pietrasanta
• Visit Bozzetti Sculpture Museum
• Enjoy coffee at Piazza del Duomo
• Travel to Carrara Marble Quarries
• Choose quarry tour: inside or 4x4
• Learn marble excavation methods
• Stop for lunch in Colonnata

The experience

You have nine hours between ship and departure. The drive to Pietrasanta takes an hour through the Tuscan hills, landing you in a town built on Roman foundations and still filled with working sculptors' studios. The Bozzetti Sculpture Museum shows how artists transform marble blocks into form, and the Piazza del Duomo is the place to stop for an Italian coffee before moving on. The minivan holds up to seven passengers, so the group stays small enough to move through studios and narrow streets without the weight of a full tour bus.

At Carrara, you pick your quarry experience. The interior tour takes you deep into the Apuan Alps to a marble cathedral carved inside the mountain: an active site where you watch machinery cut and load blocks in real time, the scale of it visible only when you stand inside. The 4x4 option climbs through a network of 30 open-air quarries to nearly 1,000 meters, where the landscape turns almost lunar and the sea spreads below. This is where a James Bond chase scene was filmed in Quantum of Solace. Your guide explains the methods from cutting to loading, and the vantage point shows you why Michelangelo and Henry Moore both sourced stone from these mountains.

Lunch stops in Colonnata, a quarryman's village known for lard cured in huge marble vats: a detail that anchors the day in the actual working life of the region. The wine tasting at Colli di Luni happens on the return, and the driver brings you back to the port in time to re-board. Bring a moderate level of fitness. The quarry tours involve uneven ground and some climbing, and the 4x4 route is rougher than the interior option.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• English-speaking driver/guide.
• private Mercedes minivan transport for up to seven passengers.
• port pickup and drop-off.
• wine tasting at Colli di Luni on the return journey.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Luccalimo

Is this one for you?Choose the interior quarry tour for dramatic enclosed spaces and working machinery up close, or the 4x4 for high-altitude views across 30 open-air sites: both move at your own pace in a small group without waiting for larger tours to assemble.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What's the difference between the two Carrara quarry tours?

The interior tour descends into an active working quarry inside the mountain, where you see marble being cut and loaded by machinery. The 4x4 tour climbs through 30 open-air quarries to nearly 1,000 meters elevation, offering panoramic views and the lunar landscape where the Quantum of Solace chase was filmed. Both cost 10 euros per person and take roughly the same time. The choice depends on whether you prefer the enclosed cathedral-like space or the high-altitude views.

How much time do we actually spend at Pietrasanta and the quarries?

Pietrasanta gets roughly two hours, including the Bozzetti Museum and time to walk the studios and Piazza del Duomo. The Carrara quarry experience takes about three hours depending on which tour you choose. The remaining time covers the drive between sites, lunch in Colonnata and the wine tasting on the return to port.

Is lunch included in the excursion price?

Lunch is not included. You arrange and pay for it separately in Colonnata, the quarryman's village where the tour stops. The village is known for its lard cured in marble vats and has restaurants and cafés.

What happens if my ship docks late or I'm worried about making it back on time?

At booking, you provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time. The driver/guide plans the route to get you back to the port with time to spare, and the nine-hour window is built around typical cruise schedules. If your ship runs behind, let the operator know at checkout so they can adjust the itinerary.

Do the art studios in Pietrasanta charge entry?

Some studios may request a small entry fee to watch artists at work. It is not included in the tour price. The Bozzetti Sculpture Museum has a standard entry fee as well. Your guide will let you know which studios charge and which are open to visitors.

What's the physical demand of the quarry tours?

Both quarry options involve uneven ground and some climbing. The interior quarry tour requires descending into the mountain and navigating rocky terrain inside. The 4x4 tour climbs to nearly 1,000 meters and involves getting in and out of the vehicle on steep, rough ground. You should have at least a moderate level of fitness. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water beyond what is provided.