# Lucca, the Garfagnana and the marble of Carrara

> 3-day road trip of about 111 km (69 mi) with 9 stops, from Lucca to Colonnata. About 1 h 32 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b11-lucca-garfagnana/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 111 km (69 mi) with 9 stops, from Lucca to Colonnata. About 1 h 32 min of driving in total. From Lucca’s walls up the Serchio valley to the Devil’s Bridge and a show cave, then over the Apuan Alps to the Carrara quarries.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 111 km (69 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 32 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Lucca → Colonnata |
| Countries | Italy |
| Updated | July 11, 2026 |

## Route description

Start in Lucca, a city still enclosed by complete Renaissance walls, four kilometres around and wide enough to walk or cycle along the top. The centre is a restricted traffic zone, so park outside the walls. Inside, the oval Piazza dell’Anfiteatro follows the shape of the Roman arena, and the tower of the Guinigi family has oak trees growing on its roof.

Head north on the SS12 along the Serchio. At Borgo a Mozzano the Ponte della Maddalena, the Devil’s Bridge, crosses the river with one steep arch beside the road. Continue into the Garfagnana to Barga, a hill town with a Romanesque cathedral on its highest point, then cross the valley to Fornovolasco for the Grotta del Vento, whose guided tours last one to three hours.

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, with its Este fortress, is the valley’s main town and a good place to stock up. From here the SP13 climbs west past the little lake village of Isola Santa and Arni, then goes through the Cipollaio tunnel and drops towards the coast at Seravezza. The road is narrow with tight bends; it suits vans and small motorhomes, but not long vehicles.

Pietrasanta, just inland from the Versilia beaches, is a town of marble workshops and bronze foundries, with sculptures in its main square. From there drive north to Carrara and follow the signs for Fantiscritti, deep in the quarry basin, where lorries carry blocks down from the white walls above. End in Colonnata, a village of quarrymen known for lardo cured in marble tubs.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Lucca** (Italy)
2. **Piazza dell’Anfiteatro** (Lucca, Italy): An oval square whose houses were built on the foundations of Lucca’s Roman amphitheatre, entered through low arches. The old town is a restricted traffic zone, so park outside the walls and walk or cycle in.
3. **Ponte della Maddalena** (Borgo a Mozzano, Italy): A medieval stone bridge over the Serchio with one tall, lopsided arch, known locally as the Devil’s Bridge. It stands beside the SS12 with a small car park; cross on foot for the best view of the arch.
4. **Barga** (Italy)
5. **Grotta del Vento** (Fabbriche di Vergemoli, Italy): A show cave in the Apuan Alps named after the strong draught at its entrance, with underground lakes, shafts and flowstone. Guided tours last one to three hours, depending on the route; the inside stays cool, so bring a jacket.
6. **Castelnuovo di Garfagnana** (Italy)
7. **Pietrasanta** (Italy)
8. **Fantiscritti marble quarries** (Carrara, Italy): The heart of the Carrara marble basin, where white quarry walls rise above the valley and the stone bridges of the old marble railway cross the gorge at Ponti di Vara. Trucks use the narrow road on weekdays; drive carefully.
9. **Colonnata** (Italy)

## FAQs

**How long is Lucca, the Garfagnana and the marble of Carrara?**
3-day road trip of about 111 km (69 mi) with 9 stops, from Lucca to Colonnata. About 1 h 32 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Lucca, the Garfagnana and the marble of Carrara?**
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 32 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Lucca, the Garfagnana and the marble of Carrara start and end?**
It starts in Lucca and ends in Colonnata.

**Which countries does Lucca, the Garfagnana and the marble of Carrara pass through?**
Italy.