BUON
VIAGGIO
No visit to Carrara is complete without a tour of its world-famous quarries, or a taste of its most special foodstuff. A visit in the summer months is advised, as the beach towns of Forte Dei Marmi, Carrara and Pietrasanta are lovely in the summertime – Italian resort towns with little traffic from American travelers, with a rich food culture, wonderful shopping, and lovely beaches. As always, the Michelin Guide is your best resource for traveling in Italy, short of local knowledge – use it to find the best hotels and restaurants throughout the country.
Served as thinly sliced antipasti, Lardo is made from pork fatback, and is a delicacy consumed in sandwiches, on bread, or da solo (on its own). Described as “rich,” “creamy,” and “succulent,” there is consensus in the culinary community that Lardo di Colonnata stands alone in the world of Lardo, and many attribute its special character to the porosity of the marble basins it spends 6 months in, as well as to the climate in the area, which assists in the curing process.
Lardo di Colonnata is a Salumi of the first order, a heritage food protected by IGP designation, certifying it as an authentic product of Tuscany, prepared in traditional fashion, and proudly preserved. Indelibly tied to the region’s stone production, Lardo di Colonnata is slowly cured in marble basins crafted from the local quarries, and is often presented in marble boxes.
Photo: Ed Anderson
CURED in MARBLE BASINS
LAR-DO
QUARRY-ING
get inspired
The Apuan Alps of northwestern Tuscany nearly crash into the Ligurian sea, looming high and whitecapped over the towns of Forte Dei Marmi, Carrara, and Pietrasanta. From afar, the view is one of snowy peaks adjacent to buzzing beach towns, a multicolored spectacle of Italian splendor.
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But these mountains produce more than one famous product. The rich history of quarrying in the Apuan Alps of Tuscany has brought forth another rich indulgence, one that sustained generations of quarrymen tasked with pulling the marble from the mountain; Lardo di Colonnata.
Yes, Lardo.
Travel up those mountains, and the illusion is revealed: what looks like snow from a distance is actually far better – mountaintops shorn back and adorned with the jewel of Italian stone; white Carrara marble, coveted the world over.
A Tuscan Delicacy:
Lardo di Colonnata
Image: www.greatitalianchefs.com
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APPOINTMENT
ARTISTIC TILE
Make an appointment at Artistic Tile's Slab Gallery and view a wide selection of White Carrara Marble from the Apuan Alps.
520 Secaucus Road, Secaucus NJ 07094
in the Apuan Alps
of Tuscany
Italian
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