Amazing Versilia Awaits
Massimo will be waiting to whisk us to Versilia and the fascinating medieval city of Pietrasanta—the historic capital and the hub of marble processing. In recent decades, the city has turned into a veritable open-air museum, attracting artists from all over the world. Expect to discover a continuously-renewed display of top-tier artwork and sculpture among the town’s plethora of galleries and squares. En route, we’ll make a quick stop in the peaceful little town of Torre del Lago, home to legendary opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
Our morning also includes exploring some of the city’s best, Nancy-approved boutiques. Among her top picks: a store devoted solely to espadrilles (Nancy’s preferred summer shoe!) and another brimming with handmade shoes and woven handbags. After shopping, we’ll stop for lunch at one of the local ristorantes.
Majestic Marble Mountains
For our next adventure, Pat will be our guide up the Apuan Alps to the tiny ancient village of Colonnata, famous for its prestigious Carrara Marble. Rich in history, the area was first settled by the Romans, who started mining here instead of using costly Pentelic marble from Greece. Centuries later, the Italian renaissance was built on marble from Carrara, and many of the sculptures and buildings in nearby Florence, Siena and Pisa are made of the luxury stone. It’s even rumored that Michelangelo came to the village personally to choose the marble for his iconic statue, David.
The region is also home to one of Italy’s true gastronomic delights: Lardo di Colonnata—a special lard that is pressed in the marble vats with spices. The longer it ages, the more flavor it has, and we will taste it with prosciutto and crusty breads the way the Italians have eaten it for centuries. At a private tasting, we’ll learn why it’s considered a delicacy.
For dinner, we’ll meet for pizza and wine at one of Lucca’s renowned pizzerias.
