« previousnext »

The Apuan Alps are not only appreciated for the many varieties of fine marble that are quarried here, but also for top quality sandstones and slates.

The types of stone extracted at Cardoso and at Matraia since the Middle Ages are particularly sought after, because their physical and aesthetic properties make them ideal for use as constructions materials. Both these varieties of sandstone are dark grey bordering on deep blue, and are very compact and tough. They are used in interiors for attractive fireplaces, steps, handrails, window sills, kitchen surfaces, floors and facings, but their unique mechanical properties and their notable resistance to the elements make them also particularly suitable for use in building, and for paving and roofing; they are employed in exteriors for arcades and columns, and to create all kinds of borders around the edge of pools.

They are also used extensively in urban contexts, especially to pave courtyards and avenues. A fine example of the use of locally quarried sandstone can be found in Lucca: the loggia of the Palazzo Ducale, designed by Florentine architect Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1577, was built in stone from Matraia and stone from Guamo, another quarry in the province of Lucca.

For more information visit

• Biography of Bartolomeo Ammannati
• Cardoso stone
• Pietra di Matraia stone
• The Apuan Alps