Explore
The Torano Basin is one of the three main valleys comprising the Carrara marble quarries. It is closely associated with Michelangelo's historic visits to the region.
Located in the Apuan Alps, the Torano valley is famous for its bright white statuario marble. The quarry basins reach elevations up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). Private cars can drive up the public roads for free, but heavy truck traffic makes the route busy during weekdays.
This basin holds deep historical significance. It contains active extraction sites alongside traditional sculpture workshops. These workshops continue the region's long stone-working history today.
30 minutesHistoric Michelangelo site
The Polvaccio Quarry is a legendary extraction site in the Torano valley. Michelangelo supposedly sourced the block for his famous David sculpture directly from this quarry. Many sculpture workshops in the valley still use marble extracted from this specific area today. You need about 30 minutes to view the site.
