I took a Mediterranean cruise in 2023 and stopped at Marina di Carrara, a lesser-known Italian port. I visited an active quarry in the Apuan Alps of Carrara — home to the coveted Carrara marble.

This article was originally published with the title “ The Marble Quarries of Carrara ” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 97 No. 20 (November 1907), p. 361 doi:10.1038 ...

Resistance and extractivism: Inside Carrara, home of white marble. In a place where natural beauty and industrial extraction collide, people are fighting for an Italian town threatened by decline.

Colorful marble has been having a moment. Designers and homeowners have rediscovered rosy Rojo Alicante, emerald-hued Empress Green, and purple-tinged Calacatta Viola. But make no mistake: Black ...