Colonnata between Lardo, Marble and the Apuan Alps

Colonnata is a district of the municipality of Carrara in the province of Massa-Carrara and, at the same time, the geographical production area of Lardo di Colonnata. Here, a special culinary tradition comes together with the history of marble quarrying and the landscape of the Apuan Alps.

Lardo between Craftsmanship and Marble

In Colonnata, Lardo is prepared with aromatic herbs and then aged for six to ten months in marble basins rubbed with garlic. These marble basins used to age Lardo date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Dating them across three centuries gives the marble basins a historical timeframe alongside the ageing period. The production and consumption of Lardo, as well as the culture associated with it, have always been connected with the work and lives of the quarry workers.

Even today, this connection can be experienced during an insight visit to the Larderia of Antica Larderia Mafalda. The visit includes a workshop and an explanation of the production processes. For many years, Colonnata also hosted a Sagra del lardo in connection with the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, attracting numerous visitors and enthusiasts from various parts of Italy and abroad. The former festival linked the product name with the specific occasion of the Feast of Saint Bartholomew.

Experience the History of Marble Quarrying

The origins of Colonnata date back to Roman times, when a group of slaves settled there to extract marble. The Fossacava archaeological site is located in the village of Tarnone on the road to Colonnata. A large, amphitheatre-shaped Roman quarry has been preserved there to this day; QR-code panels and a 3D video support a virtual tour of marble quarrying from Roman times to the present day. Those interested in culture can explore the preserved Roman quarry and the virtual tour of marble quarrying at Fossacava.

Those who want to see marble quarrying up close can choose the approximately two-and-a-half-hour 4×4 tour offered by Toscana Tour Experience. It includes the Colonnata quarrying area and provides the opportunity to visit several active open-pit and underground quarries. When planning your day, allow for the approximately two-and-a-half-hour tour as one continuous block of time, since it includes both open-pit and underground quarrying.

Hiking Trails in the Apuan Alps

Hiking trails lead from Colonnata to the panoramas of the Apuan Alps. The village is situated in the distinctive landscape of the Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane, a regional park that protects landscapes and biodiversity of exceptional beauty and quality there. Hikers can use Colonnata as a starting point for exploring the panoramas of the Apuan Alps. For day planning, the destinations differ: the trails lead to panoramic viewpoints, while the tour leads to active quarries.

Other Places for Trip Planning

Pian di Molino, Comano, Corlaga, Casola In Lunigiana, Zeri, Fivizzano, Malgrate, Podenzana

To the main travel overview: Massa-Carrara.