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Carrara, Italy

Carrara
Carara
Comune
Comune di Carrara
The area around Carrara, seen from an aircraft flying at 10,000 metres. The town is at the top of the picture, nearest to the marble quarries which are the white markings on the mountains.
The area around Carrara, seen from an aircraft flying at 10,000 metres. The town is at the top of the picture, nearest to the marble quarries which are the white markings on the mountains.
Coat of arms of Carrara
Coat of arms
Carrara is located in Italy
Carrara
Carrara
Location of Carrara in Italy
Coordinates: 44°04.75′N 10°06.00′E / 44.07917°N 10.10000°E / 44.07917; 10.10000Coordinates: 44°04.75′N 10°06.00′E / 44.07917°N 10.10000°E / 44.07917; 10.10000
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Province / Metropolitan city Massa and Carrara (MS)
Frazioni Avenza, Bedizzano, Bergiola, Bonascola, Castelpoggio, Codena, Colonnata, Fontia, Fossola, Gragnana, Marina di Carrara, Miseglia, Nazzano, Noceto, Sorgnano, Torano
Government
 • Mayor Francesco De Pasquale (Five Star Movement)
Area
 • Total 71 km2 (27 sq mi)
Elevation 100 m (300 ft)
Population (30 June 2016)
 • Total 62,923
 • Density 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Carraresi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 54033
Dialing code 0585
Patron saint San Ceccardo
Saint day June 16

Carrara [karˈraːra] (Emilian: Carara) is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, of the province of Massa and Carrara and notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some 100 kilometres (62 mi) west-northwest of Florence.

Its motto is Fortitudo mea in rota (Latin: "My strength is in the wheel").

There were known settlements in the area as early as the 9th century BC, when the Apuan Ligures lived in the region. The current town originated from the borough built to house workers in the marble quarries created by the Romans after their conquest of Liguria in the early 2nd century BC. Carrara has been linked with the process of quarrying and carving marble since the Roman Age. Marble was exported from the nearby harbour of Luni at the mouth of river Magra.

In the early Middle Ages it was a Byzantine and then Lombard possession, and then, it was under bishops of Luni, turning itself into an city-state in the early 13th century; during the struggle between Guelphs and Ghibellines, Carrara usually belonged to the latter party. The Bishops acquired it again in 1230, their rule ending in 1313, when the city was given in succession to the Republics of Pisa, Lucca and Florence. Later it was acquired by Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Milan.


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