Carrara
From Pisa Airport participants can take the train to Carrara ("Carrara-Avenza" station). The train to Carrara can be taken either directly from the airport train station ("Pisa Fermata Aeroporto") or from Pisa station "Pisa Centrale" (there is a convenient bus from the airport to "Pisa Centrale" station). The trip by train to Carrara will take about 60min.
From Florence Airport: take the shuttle bus “Volainbus” to "Santa Maria Novella" train station ("Firenze S. M. Novella" - the central station of Firenze). The bus goes every 30min. The trip will take about 25 min. It is possible to purchase the bus ticket at the tabacconist shop, the bar inside the airport, the newspaper stands inside the train station or from the SITA bus station itself. The ticket will be a bit more expensive if you buy it onboard from the driver. From "Santa Maria Novella" station take the train to "Carrara-Avenza". The trip will take about 1h 50min.
From Florence Airport it is also possible to take the bus to Rifredi Station ("Firenze Rifredi" - nearest railway station to the airport) and from "Firenze Rifredi" station you can take the train to "Carrara-Avenza". The train trip to "Carrara-Avenza" will also take about 1h 50min.
If you are travelling from Florence city, you can take the train from Santa Maria Novella Station ("Firenze S. M. Novella"). This is the main railway station in Florence located in Piazza della Stazione in the city center. The trip to "Carrara-Avenza" by train will take about 1h 50min.
From Genova Airport: first you can take the shuttle bus ("Volainbus") to "Genova Brignole" station, the journey will take about 30 min. "Genova Brignole" is Genova’s main railway station located on Piazza Verdi in the city centre. From "Genova Brignole" take a train to "Carrara-Avenza" station (depending on particular train, the trip will take from 1h 50min to 2h 50min).
How to get from "Carrara-Avenza" train station to Carrara town centre?
Here you can download and print out the directions in PDF.
Where to purchase bus and train tickets?
Usually tickets for the bus can be purchased from the bus driver or be bought at the automated ticket machines in the terminal building at the airports and at a variety of city centre locations including the railway stations. Train tickets can be purchased at the train station or online via TrenItalia web site.
ACCOMMODATION IN CARRARA
Special discounted rates for IUGTE Conference participants are stated below.
We are daily updating the information on the available rooms. Please inform us which room you would like to book.
IUGTE is preparing the group accommodation list in advance. The guests should make the payment directly to the hotel reception upon arrival.
Please note that the discount is only available if you book through IUGTE. If you make your reservation via independent booking systems in the Internet, other conditions may apply.
From the airport you should take the train to "Carrara-Avenza" train station.
Nearest international airports:
Pisa Airport - 61 km from the venue.
Florence Airport - 118 km from the venue.
Genova Airport - 126 km from the venue.
Search for convenient flight options via SkyScanner
Carrara is well connected with other cities of Italy through a network of railways and buses.
The city of Carrara is located in the Province of Massa and Carrara (in Italian: Provincia di Massa e Carrara) on the Carrione River in the Tuscany region. The province is named after the two main towns in its territory - Carrara and Massa. The city is known to have been inhabited since the 9th Century BC when the Apuan Ligures lived here.
The province has incredibly fascinating geographical area, its nature has a unique combination of beauty - the landscape includes the background of the proud Apuan Alps and the sky-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It looks as though the mountains near Carrara are covered with snow, but in reality, the white that you see is the most pristine and whitest marble in the world. These mountains gave birth to the finest masterpieces of marble the world has ever seen.
The province is famous for the production of the white Carrara marble which has been used since the time of Ancient Rome and is exported all around the world. The marble of Carrara has originated from the calcareous mud from the bottom of the Tethys sea, from the Jurassic period, and is about 200 million years old. The Pantheon and Trajan's Column in Rome and many sculptures of the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo's David, were constructed of the white Carrara marble. For Michelangelo, Carrara marble was valued above all other stone.
In Carrara, it seems that everything that can be built of marble is made in marble, and why not? Literally, just stepping out of your hotel door, you will find yourself walking on this precious stone. To walk in the same valleys as Michelangelo did as he was searching for the perfect marble in order make possible the marvellous creations is inspiring...
You can walk through Marble caves and quarries of Carrara (Cave di Marmo), watch the 12th century Marble Cathedral (Duomo of Carrara), and get lost into the small streets meeting the church and the adjoining convent of San Francesco (Chiesa di San Francesco), the church of the Suffragio (Chiesa del Suffragio) and cross the green spaces of the arms square (Piazza d'armi) to step into Ducal Palace Malaspina which today is the home of the Fine Arts Academy (Palazzo Cybo Malaspina), the place of learning and development of arts since 1769. Many interesting sites are just in the small, ancient city center, the sanctuary of the Madonna Delle Grazie all Lugnola, the church of Santa Maria Assunta, and numerous art galleries, museums, art shops of statuaries and antiquities but high mountains and seaside are at less than fifteen minutes from the ones that like to dive into the beauty of natures instead of the historical man made piece of art.
Carrara has a unique character and charm, the whole atmosphere of the city is permeated by creativity - drawings, paintings and street art can be noticed almost on each street and alley.
VENUE AND TRANSPORTATION
IUGTE conference will take place at Ex Mulino Forti - conference and congress centre managed by the socio-cultural association of Carrara City. Location on the map.
Tuscany is known for its colorful picturesque landscapes, history, finest cuisine traditions and the greatest artistic legacy. Tuscany is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and has been home to many figures influential in the history of art and science, such as Petrarch, Dante, Boccaccio, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Niccolò Macchiavelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Amerigo Vespucci, Luca Pacioli, Amedeo Modigliani and Giacomo Puccini.
TUSCANY, ITALY - CARRARA
"The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo"
Mark Twain
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free"
Michelangelo
Hotel "Dora" **Housed in a 15th-century building in historical centre of Carrara town, Hotel "Dora" is located next to the Carrione River and just 300m (4min walk) from the conference venue.
See location on the map.
Single room: 37 EUR. Shared twin/double room: 32 EUR per person.
Shared triple room / and more beds: 27 EUR per person.
Suite room: 70 EUR (single); 100 EUR (double).
Prices include breakfast. Free WiFi available. The hotel is fully booked.
Art & Design Hotel "Michelangelo" ****
Hotel "Michelangelo" is located in the heart of historical Carrara town centre and just 450m (5min walk) from the conference venue. See location on the map. The hotel offers a terrace overlooking the Apuan Alps. The Michelangelo's rooms are originally decorated with unique art: each room has its oil paintings that covers a whole wall together with sculptures and design artworks. All rooms are furnished on the basis of a design project. Single room: 75 EUR. Shared twin/double room: 89 EUR for room (44,50 EUR per person).
Shared triple room: 105 EUR for room (35 EUR per person). Breakfast included. Free WiFi.
The hotel is fully booked.
Bed & Breakfast "Mariposa"B&B "Mariposa" is a small family-run hotel located in the centre of Carrara just 650m (8min walk) from the conference venue. See location on the map. The hotel has three single rooms with big double bed (can be used as a double room for a couple as well) and two twin rooms (one room with two separate beds; another room with a big double bed and a single folding bed).
Each room has a bathroom with shower and hairdryer, TV and wardrobe.
Single room: 35 EUR. Shared twin/double room: 60 EUR for the room; 30 EUR per person.
Breakfast included. Free WiFi. The hotel is fully booked.
In case the above mentioned hotels in Carrara are fully booked, however IUGTE Staff will be happy to help you to find alternative options. Please contact us for more details.
Additional accommodation search links:
IUGTE will be glad to help participants in planning the travel itinerary, information on accommodation options and practical details.