Carrara Carrara Carrara () is a city and "comune" in Tuscany, in 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 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
Duchy of Massa and Carrara Duchy of Massa and Carrara The Duchy of Massa and Carrara was the duchy that controlled the towns of Massa di Carrara and Carrara; the area is now part of unified Italy, but retains its local identity as the province of Massa-Carrara. The core of this territory was formed on 22 February 1473 when Iacopo Malaspina, Marquis of Massa, purchased the Lordship of Carrara (villages of Carrara, Moneta and Avenza). At first the marquis resided in Carrara but, as Carrara was frequently invaded by French forces, he moved to Massa. The house of Malaspina became extinct in the male line