Want to spend 3 days in the cinque terre. On Rick's video,he makes a side trip to the Carrara marble Quarry. How did he GET there? Looking on the internet and can't find any transportation to the actual quarry? Any recommendations on which of the three are best?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Rick drove. I haven't done it, but here's a link to how to get to the Carrara train station by railhttp://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=4947from the station you probably need to have a tour arranged to get you from the train station to the quarry.
Posted by
Tualatin, OR, USA
123 posts
I checked into this matter a couple of years ago, as my sweetie also wanted to visit the quarry. There are trains to Carrara from CT. Rick lists a guide for the quarry in his book. In fact, she is also in one of his videos on Italy. We didn't get a chance to go, as we ran out of time, but at that time it was possible to take the train to the quarry, tour and return, all in one day. Good luck!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I haven't done it but I believe the train does not stop at the quarry itself, the quarry is "up the hill." So you need to have a way of getting from the train station to the quarry, or drive. Here's what Rick says in his book (Italy 2006, p. 320): "Sara Paolini is accustomed to meeting drivers at the Carrara freeway exit or she can pick you up at the train station." (Sara is the guide featured in Rick's video). His book gives a phone # for contacting her.If this seems like to much trouble, an easier alternatives is to watch the scene near the beginning of "Quantum of Solace" that was filmed at the quarry. :)
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
893 posts
Last April we were on a RS Village Italy tour that went to the Quary. It is not up a hill, it's up a mountain, with a very winding road. (we are from Colorado, so have seen these before)We couldn't actually go into the mountain and watch them cut. We had to stay toward the entrance and were shown the oldtime equipment and a stonecutters hut. For the time that we spent driving up and down, you haven't missed that much.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Mimi: Yes, I agree with you about the quarry being up a mountain--I was just trying to add a bit of humor when I said "up the hill, it's why I put that in quotes in my above post--but I'm glad you clarified it for the original poster. :)
Posted by
Tucson, AZ, USA
134 posts
I agree with Mimi. We too went to the Quarry with a RS tour and although it was somewhat interesting, I definitely WOULD NOT take a day away from the Cinque Terre to visit it. If you want to take a day trip from Cinque Terre, a wonderful experience is to take the boat ride to Portovenere or Lerici.