What are possibilities of visiting the quarries using public transport from either Florence or Monterosso?
Are there any tours available to the quarries from either Florence or Monterosso?
I am not aware of any tours from Florence or the Cinque Terre to Carrara. You could hire a local guide to take you around Carrara and through the museum. I recommend Sara Paolini. She could arrange to meet you in Carrara at the train station. You could train from the Cinque Terre or from Florence. If you are interested her email is: [email protected] I visited Carrara in October and went to the museum. Its a steep, hair pin drive to the top. It was worth the trip and I still remember the sound of the marble being dumped by the trucks.
Here are several websites with information on tours to the quarries. Most are based in Carrara which is not far from the Cinque Terre (Monterosso) by train (change in La Spezia).
Click on the English flag for English (when available):
http://www.aptmassacarrara.it/scopri/marmo/default.aspx
http://www.marmotour.com/
http://www.cavedimarmotours.com/
http://www.iltau.it/itinerari/cave-di-marmo-di-carrara-visite-guidate/
http://www.myfastway.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=168
http://www.cava177.com/