But my favorite port wasn't crowded — and that's not the only reason it stood out to me.  Marina di Carrara has marvelous mountain landscapes and a unique history of luxurious I think it's a hidden-gem destination in the Mediterranean I would have thought the same thing.  For my port stop in Marina di Carrara, I booked an excursion with Carrara Marble Tour to see the mountain range lined with marble quarries up close.  I learned that Carrara is among the most coveted marble in the world "The marble from Greece and China has very big crystals "The marble from Turkey has very small crystals Although it's easier to work with than other forms of marble another reason the material is so coveted is because of all the time and effort that goes into cutting it and transporting it from the mountain range to countries around the world The mountain range also has preservation methods in place limiting the amount of marble that can be taken from it The Apuan Alps in northwest Tuscany extend over 150 miles Michelangelo spent his time in Carrara choosing specific cuts of marble from the quarries with custom orders about their sizes and shapes I was excited to see the historic marble for myself.  In 2019, the Carrara marble industry was worth $1 billion and a slab can cost up to $400 per square meter Forbes reported in 2022 that the industry made about $22 million in the first three months of the year More recently, the home improvement company Modernize published a guide to marble countertops in 2024 that states Carrara marble typically costs $40-$60 per square foot Our tour guide said that the marble is cut into different sizes and is used for a wide variety of products where our tour guide picked us up in a 4x4 jeep we saw open-air active quarries lining the mountain cliffs where we borrowed orange vests and yellow hard hats to keep us safe at the quarries The tour's website also suggests wearing comfortable shoes I wore a pair of Vans sneakers and had no problem walking around the quarry in them.  As soon as we got out of the car at one of the quarries I knew that this mountain range was unlike any I'd been to before just by the sounds Typically, hiking through mountains is a relatively quiet experience I heard the constant beeps and mechanical sounds of drilling all around me.  Our tour guide said cutting one huge piece of marble takes about four days Then he explained exactly how the marble is cut and transported.  workers use a machine to stab into the marble and cut the bottom portion of the slab the first cut usually is about 50 feet long and 10 feet deep they use a drilling machine to make a vertical hole from the top of the slab to the bottom of the slab Then they repeat the process on the other side of the slab over the next two days.  workers insert a long metal cable into the holes in the marble and use machines to pull it off the mountain The perfect slab weighs 35 tons and has no cracks Once the marble is cut out of the mountain workers place a soft sand cushion on the bottom of a truck bed to protect the marble they hook the slab to a machine that lowers it onto the truck bed The truck drives down the mountain for the marble to be transported The work that goes on at the marble quarries seems like a very challenging task I understood what our guide meant when he said this material is so coveted I'm not at a place in my life where I can afford the luxuries of Carrara marble in my kitchen And I'll have a sincere appreciation for the work that went into it.  and rich history that was easy to engage in via the interactive tour Marina di Carrara may feel as coveted to me as its marble does to the world.  As Storm Herminia arrives over the Mediterranean the Italian Coast Guard has had to respond to two groundings in the span of little more than a day including one in an upscale beach resort near Livorno.  the fishing vessel Calimero Sampa ran aground on a shoal just off Cesenatico on Italy's Adriatic coast The vessel came to rest about 250 yards offshore and partially capsized The Guardia Costiera responded with a patrol boat and an inflatable to reach the shallow-water site of the grounding As the Calimero Sampa listed over onto its starboard side the four members of the crew moved up to the wheelhouse but stayed on board to await evacuation.  shallow water and wave action made the response complex the rescuers had transferred all four survivors into the inflatable boat All were unharmed and were delivered to shore for a medical evaluation.  the hopper dredger Guang Rong ran aground on a beachfront in Marina di Massa due to bad weather The stern came to rest against the iconic Pontile di Marina di Massa a public-access pier in an upscale resort district and a helicopter is monitoring the situation.  Guang Rong is a 10,000 dwt hopper dredger flagged in Cyprus and owned in Italy The 26-year-old vessel has accumulated a long history of deficiencies and detentions with port state inspectors finding multiple issues at every boarding since 2017 Her last inspection - at Marina di Carrara Italy in September 2024 - turned up 24 deficiencies and the vessel was detained for nearly a month for repairs The identified issues included problems with corrosion A drifting Cypriot vessel (Guang Rong) has collided with the pier at Marina di Massa in Tuscany Italy during strong winds, causing it to partially collapse… pic.twitter.com/XF7uniw6AL The cargo ship Guang Rong went adrift on 28 January in the stretch of sea between Marina di Carrara and the Marina di Massa pier in Italy Local news outlets report that the vessel was half loaded with marble debris when it went adrift likely due to strong winds and crashed against the Marina di Massa pier the situation was complicated by a crane onboard that is used to move the marble debris which probably contributed to unbalancing the vessel part of the Marina di Massa pier collapsed and the area was inevitably closed off aboard the Guang Rong were thirteen crew members who fortunately were not injured and managed to get out of the ship the Port Authority Coast Guard of Marina di Carrara immediately responded the first operations to observe the damage and secure the wreck began The Genoa Coast Guard’s Underwater Unit proceeded with a thorough inspection of the hull to assess the condition of the ship and establish the procedures necessary for its removal A warning has been issued to stay clear of the designated area and respect the safety barriers The intervention is expected to be complex and may take several days to complete along with experts are coordinating the operation to ensure it is carried out safely minimizing risks to the marine environment and navigation Reports state that the ship had been stopped in 2023 by the Genoa Coast Guard Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a1b4308268ec5aee42a54eef599a1657" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed I’m in Marina di Carrara these summer days and I take the opportunity to try and meet the crew of the Open Arms which is stopped in port by the decision of our government Overcoming some difficulties and after an initial interview with a nurse I’ve been living in Spain for several years I have been one of the Open Arms captains since 2017 We are currently stuck here in Marina di Carrara due to the recent law decree n a seaside city south of Buenos Aires; out of curiosity I moved to Spain like many other Argentinians and stayed there Does Argentina know what is happening here in the Mediterranean I do everything possible to get [them] the news; I know some journalists in Mar del Plata but in reality I fear that even here in Europe we don’t know enough about what is happening in your sea I truly believe that the main objective of politicians is that everything that happens be not seen It is certainly more interesting and rewarding I don’t think it’s more difficult or complicated than other situations; even here there was a coordinating center that informed us: it called us and we went there are NGOs that have airplanes and inform us We move in the middle of the sea and cover a very large part of it there have been three periods: one in which they went to the nearest port; one in which (read [under] Minister Salvini) they [were] left to wait days and days in the middle of the sea; and now this phase in which they send you to northern ports to waste your time they take us out of the way for a while so that we can’t do our job and above all so that we can’t see what’s going on Can you describe to us what happened in this last mission when you’re assigned a port you have to head quickly and directly to that port you can’t divert to save other people Isn’t it possible to do anything “in secret” both because they see us on the radar and because we send our position every 12 hours You are stopped “as a punishment” because you have saved a second group: have you had any doubts about doing it or not The question wasn’t whether to save them or not but only whether there was someone else who could do it We asked very insistently for other [rescuers] [and] when we realized that there was nobody What would you say in a few words to someone who tells you that you do business with the mafia How is your relationship with the Italian coast guards Maybe there are some of them who do it reluctantly but for the mere fact of [there] being people [drowning] in the sea there are eleven volunteers between the rescuers and the medical team The head of mission has a lot of experience and takes care of this The team works like a “machine” What are the moods of the people you rescue Sometimes we rescue people who have been at sea for a day sometimes for 4 or 5: this makes a lot of difference It is not easy to immediately screen how people are doing and assist the most serious ailments Sometimes unconscious people are carried up have you been on the boat with this load of humanity and suffering but I wasn’t there and I wouldn’t have liked to be there People saw the nearby island and dived into the sea they had to be careful day and night to prevent someone from drowning It was very hard and it was during Salvini’s legislature dangerous moments is when they see you and approach you their agitation or everyone moving to one side can capsize their boat Meanwhile our two rapid boats are approaching one on one side and one on the other so as to distribute their “stimulus” They stop well before arriving and signal with a megaphone and the boats do not approach [the distressed boat] until everyone is seated but we can also stay less than 100 meters away Have you rescued people directly from the water you have to quickly understand who can resist a little longer and collect those who are on their last legs first Are there no moments of discouragement in which you feel like saying: “Enough there is a psychological team (online) that supports us throughout the mission as soon as we ask for help because it can happen that in the middle of the action with the adrenaline and everything that happens and sensations remain inside you… Surely we don’t have infinite energy and in the long run this work is exhausting; I remember a previous captain who told me: “This job has a deadline I’m almost getting to that point (laughs) How is the moment of “return” to the land about 80% of the time we find good treatment At that moment many of those who get off clap their hands there are two possible routes: that of the Canaries where the journey is very dangerous because it is the ocean Let’s say that there is no need for NGOs there there is a company commissioned by the Spanish state that has 4 large boats dedicated to this The other route is that of the Strait of Gibraltar: there is a great coming and going of small and large boats that deal with the rescues the route is really short and very loaded small boats arrive from Morocco Now you will have to stay here for 20 days and pay 10,000 euros Do you think that you will really stay 20 days and pay that amount or is there a way to shorten the time but the fine works like the one for motorists; if you pay immediately they’ll reduce it and I think we’ve already paid we would have been here for 2 or 3 days and then we would have left How did you experience the news of the arrest the interrogations of me and the other officer there would have been a change [of volunteers] If you could speak to the head of the Italian government What I’ve already said: whether she comes with us whether she gets on this boat or one of the others I myself don’t think this is the solution I believe that people shouldn’t be forced to leave their country or run away from their home they should be helped to feel better where they were born Maybe if we stopped exploiting this part of the world they would live better with the tremendous economic crises you have experienced not gone through phases of heavy emigration One leaves on a plane with a tourist visa and then stays there Those who leave by boat [are those who] cannot get a plane ticket even with these battered boats [the trips] don’t come for free Here in Italy we barely remember how many millions of Italians went to Argentina I believe we have to work so that people can move safely We also have to work on distribution: certainly Italy cannot take care these people would be much less noticeable can you figure out where they started from [the boats] can have come from nearby areas and transport people traveling from different parts of Africa [the boats] were only rubber or wooden boats now [people] also arrive on metal boats which are even more insecure now it is no longer possible: they remain at sea so that people know that [the migrants] from that boat were rescued or else they might [think that] all have drowned But these boats that remain in the middle of the sea can be a problem for navigation in the Mediterranean can you guess if any of them are the smugglers even if I really believe that they put one of the migrants to drive the boat and none of those who profit from these traffickings get on board: it’s much easier They give [ the migrants] a rudimentary boat [The migrants] are so inexperienced that when refueling they spill a lot of [fuel] on the bottom of the boat and that’s where the many skin burns come from Sometimes (it depends on the captain) they pretend nothing has happened or they put themselves under the orders of the competent authority if they leave without doing anything and someone sees them they can be reported At the end he shows me all around the boat the cabins where the crew sleeps: [it’s a whole] world… I imagine that deck full of people lying down the children jumping [up and down]… because at least three must always stay on board and we go for a tour of the marble quarries where they taste the lard: they are happy [to get] a little cool after so much heat some fresh air for them too… On a couple of occasions at the bar or in a shop and I say enthusiastically: “They are the Spaniards from Open Arms!” Someone gives us a discount begins to tell me that he doesn’t believe in it that NGOs do business… so much so that [the Open Arms people] themselves tell me to let it go not to introduce them: “Never mind that someone comes up with bad ideas they can always spite us.” I hadn’t thought of that Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to our daily news service Support our Peace and Nonviolence journalism with your donation PressenzaAn international news agency dedicated to news about peace and nonviolence with offices in Athens We use cookies to analyse our traffic and to embed third party content This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page We are talking about the Province of Massa-Carrara divided between the Apuan Alps and Lunigiana and chosen by the New York Times as the only Italian destination for a trip in 2024 its landscapes and its millennia-old culture a warlike people who stood up to the Romans and whose mysterious stele statues remain for us to admire in the area’s museums the Province of Massa-Carrara is a little-known jewel for mass tourism The southern part of the province is dominated by the spectacular Apuan Alps Nature lovers can explore the Apuan Alps Park where hiking trails lead to spectacular views And then there are the cities: Massa and Carrara preserve their historic centers well intact but they are also seaside towns that come alive in the summer while Lunigiana is dotted with picturesque medieval villages that offer the chance to take real time travels among cobblestone streets and a still authentic and genuine atmosphere And what about the gastronomic specialties Delicacies impossible to find anywhere else in Italy can be found here: testaroli from Lunigiana (seasoned with pesto and many other specialties that satisfy everyone’s palate Massa-Carrara is therefore a destination that reserves the opportunity to explore natural beauty and savor unique cuisine on a journey that will provide memories that are hard to forget let’s see what are the ten stops you should not miss during your stay!1 the ancient capital of a small state (first a marquisate then a principality and finally a duchy) that roughly corresponded to the territory of the present province and remained independent from the 15th century until the Restoration preserves in its historic center its orderly Renaissance layout gathered around the austere bulk of the Ducal Palace once the seat of the state government and the residence of the Cybo-Malaspina family (the rulers of Massa and Carrara) and today partly the seat of the prefecture and partly an exhibition center The center gathers at the foot of the Malaspina Castle which was also transformed during the Renaissance to make it a residence more suited to the new times (today it has also become home to the Uffizi Diffusi project) full of clubs and elegant stores and boutiques a Madonna by Pinturicchio; monumental squares such as Piazza Aranci and Piazza Mercurio; the Diocesan Museum which allows a journey through local art from the 15th to the 19th century; and then just outside the Villa della Rinchiostra the former residence of the Cybo-Malaspina family the hamlet lying on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea is a regular destination for lively seaside tourism Carrara’s marble quarries are world-famous for their production of high-quality marble which has been used since Roman times for buildings and works of art such as Michelangelo’s David or Pieta (the great Renaissance artist often traveled to Carrara to select marble in person) To learn about the long history of marble quarrying in Carrara an ancient quarry used since Roman times and now an open-air museum Carrara’s three marble basins produce different types of marble and other marbles in demand worldwide.Each type has unique color and veining characteristics and the choice of marble often depends on the specific needs of the project Marble quarrying is a challenging and often spectacular process: today quarrymen use both modern and traditional equipment to extract large blocks of marble from the walls of quarries and transport them down the mountain to be further processed in local workshops Visitors have the opportunity to take part in guided tours of Carrara’s marble quarries organized by private agencies scattered throughout the area (most quarries are closed to the public as workplaces so it is necessary to contact specialized parties to visit them) often conducted in 4x4 vehicles that climb the very steep quarry routes offer a unique opportunity to explore the quarries learn about the history and process of marble extraction and admire views otherwise precluded to visitors traveling alone Marina di Massa and Cinquale: these are the three hamlets of the three respective municipalities (Carrara Massa and Montignoso) that make up the Apuan Riviera the narrow strip of land facing the Ligurian Sea becoming one of Tuscany’s most popular areas for seaside tourism partly because the three resorts are characterized by different types of tourism (Marina di Carrara and Marina di Massa are the typical choice of those who appreciate family or otherwise quiet and relaxing tourism while Cinquale is a favorite resort for those who want to get closer to the bustling nightlife of nearby Versilia) The Apuan Riviera is known for its golden sandy beaches and clean waters (the three municipalities have often been awarded the Blue Flag).The coastal resorts offer options for spending relaxing days at the beach Plenty of bathing establishments cover almost the entire coastline but there is still no shortage of free beaches or cliffs A small fortified village (the name “Filetto” perhaps derives from the Greek word filakterion meaning precisely “fortified place”) with very ancient origins: perhaps a village existed here between the 6th and 7th centuries Filetto is worth visiting because it has kept its medieval appearance perfectly intact (so much so that today it is the site of several festivals and themed re-enactments precisely because it is rare to find such well-preserved villages) Filetto opens to the visitor with its stone buildings and the 17th-century palace of the Marquis Ariberti it is impossible to pass up a visit to the Selva di Filetto a mysterious and fascinating chestnut forest that can be counted among the most magical places in the province of Massa-Carrara as it is believed to have been the site of ancient rituals of the Liguri Apuani (this is attested to by the fact that eleven stele statues have been found here) A legend that the inhabitants like to pass on to each other has it that Dante Alighieri who stayed in Lunigiana between 1306 and 1307 as a guest of the Malaspina family drew inspiration for his “dark forest” precisely from the forest of Filetto Fosdinovo is a charming medieval village located in Lunigiana which attracts visitors interested in the history and culture of these lands The Malaspina Castle is the main monument in the village: it dates back to the 14th century and is one of the best preserved castles in Lunigiana dominates the village and offers spectacular views of the surrounding valley Also of considerable importance is the church of San Remigio which is anticipated by a scenic marble staircase and whose interior houses splendid monuments and altars also made of marble Also of ancient origin is the Oratorio dei Bianchi which is notable for its extraordinary 17th-century façade made entirely of slabs of off-white marble The surrounding hills offer opportunities for hikes and nature walks but Fosdinovo is also a place where it is possible to savor the best of local cuisine of restaurants and trattorias offering traditional Lunigiana dishes This is how one could define Fivizzano: in fact the Province of Massa-Carrara has a history mostly unrelated to that of the rest of the region the territory was for centuries an autonomous state that had little to do with what was decided in and around Florence however: it was one of the few villages in Lunigiana administered by the Florentines from ancient times it was 1477 when Fivizzano came under Florence and today the town’s historic center is the only one with a distinctly Florentine imprint in the area as attested (right from its name) by the very central Piazza Medicea with its neat Renaissance palaces and the fountain built by Cosimo III de’ Medici starting with the altarpiece on the high altar of the church of Santi Jacopo e Antonio painted by the Florentine Pier Francesco Foschi castles (such as that of Verrucola) are worth visiting in addition to the hills and mountains of the Apuan Alps Park within easy reach of the town center Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Guido Cozzi/Atlantide Phototravel/GettyImages has been held in Italy since May 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine It is believed to have ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin The Scheherazade superyacht was impounded by the Italian government in May 2022 in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine Italy has allowed its owner to maintain and refit the vessel but it won't disclose who is footing the bill The Financial Times reported on Sunday that the vessel has been held at port in Marina di Carrara located almost 90 miles northwest of Florence since it was impounded by authorities in the spring of 2022 the Italian government has permitted the owner to continue paying for the ship's staff its maintenance and refitting of the vessel Italy's Finance Ministry said in a May 2022 news release that the superyacht had "significant economic and business links" with "prominent elements of the Russian government" but didn't name the owner of the ship According to the website SuperYachtFan, the 460-foot superyacht belongs to Russian billionaire Eduard Khudainatov. However, Bloomberg News reported in 2022 that he is a "straw owner" of the superyacht — as well as another ship — and that the Scheherazade actually belongs to Putin The Financial Times reported that the Scheherazade has 22 cabins, two helicopter decks and a spa and that it's being refitted by the Italian Sea Group. NPR reached out to the Italian Sea Group for comment but did not hear back before publication The United States created Task Force KleptoCapture in the wake of Putin's war against Ukraine, aiming to hold Russian oligarchs accountable for evading sanctions. In its one year of operation, the task force has brought charges to at least 35 individuals and entities Part of those efforts included seizing luxury items belonging to billionaires with ties to the Kremlin. This includes items like a 348-foot yacht seized in Fiji in May 2022 which is valued at about $300 million and is now sitting in San Diego Become an NPR sponsor Activists linked to Alexei Navalny believe the Scheherazade is owned by the Russian president For several months, the mysterious 140-metre-long, six-floor superyacht has towered over the smaller boats in the shipyard in Marina di Carrara, a town on Italy’s Tuscan coast, arousing chatter among its people over the identity of its wealthy owner. “It’s the largest yacht I’ve ever seen here,” said Suzy Dimitrova, who owns a boat in the marina. “There are people cleaning it all the time. The last time I saw it leave [the shipyard] was last year. We’re all wondering who the owner is.” Read moreThe Scheherazade, said to be worth $700m (£528m), is under investigation by Italian authorities for potential links to sanctioned Russians. And activists working with the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are in no doubt that the yacht is owned by the Russian president Vladimir Putin investigative journalist Maria Pevchikh and anti-corruption activist Georgy Alburov said that all crew members they claimed that some of the yacht’s staff worked for the Russia’s Federal Protective Service (FSO) an agency that manages security for high-ranking officials including Putin who have urged Italian authorities to seize the yacht said this information proves it belongs to Putin and they regularly travel to Italy as a group to work on the mysterious yacht,” Pevchikh wrote on Twitter The interior of the vessel was described as being equipped with a spa a wood-burning fireplace and a pool table designed to tilt so as to reduce the impact of the waves In an address to the Italian parliament on Tuesday the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Italy to seize the yacht adding that Putin and his wealthy supporters often holidayed in Italy and should have their assets blocked “Don’t be a resort for murderers,” he said accounts and yachts – from the Scheherazade to the smallest ones.” Putin’s last official visit to Italy was in 2019 at the invitation of the former prime minister He also held talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican during the visit Marina di Carrara is close to Forte dei Marmi a favourite holiday destination for Russian oligarchs many of whom have bought villas and beach resorts 0:50Italian authorities seize one of world’s largest superyachts from oligarch – videoThe yacht can only be seen through a fence in a shipyard owned by The Italian Sea Group a company that refits and builds luxury yachts The mystery over its owner gathered momentum in early March, when finance police in Carrara boarded the yacht as EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs kicked in over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine The police seized ownership documents from the yacht’s British captain US officials told the New York Times that they were also investigating whether the yacht belonged to Putin The Italian Sea Group said in a statement that it was continuing to work on the ship’s €6m (£5m) refit and maintenance despite the EU’s sanctions and that the vessel “is not attributable to the property of the Russian president Vladimir Putin” and neither is it owned by a Russian on the sanction list A source at the finance police unit in Carrara said that they are now aware who the owner is and will soon make an announcement An investigation by La Stampa newspaper earlier this month had linked the vessel to Eduard Yurievich Khudainatov the former president of the Russian state oil firm Rosneft via a shell company registered in the Marshall Islands But Italian police are reportedly certain that Khudainatov is not the yacht’s real owner “He seems to be a man connected with Putin’s inner circle but not so rich as to own a yacht like the Scheherazade,” said Jacopo Iacoboni the journalist for La Stampa who carried out the investigation Until the Italian police reveal their findings the people of Marina di Carrara continue to ponder and looking at it now causes me a lot of anxiety because of what he is doing in Ukraine,” said Maria Cristina there are no signs of protests being planned a city with a history spanning thousands of years a city that stretches from the mountains to the sea dominated by the imposing bulk of Mount Sagro the sacred mountain of the Apuan Ligurians who were the first inhabitants of these lands “Lunge per l’aria chiara / appar grande e soave / cerula e bianca / l’Alpe di Carrara / cerula d’ombre / bianca di cave”: so sang Gabriele d’Annunzio among the many literati and artists who could not resist the charm of this unique city and whose life revolves around its most prized material but of Tuscan it has only its administrative affiliation: its historic center its inhabitants speak a strange dialect that is a mixture of Ligurian and Emilian (and is actually considered by linguists to be an Emilian dialect) and its history has almost always been linked to that of nearby Massa (together Massa and Carrara were the main centers of an independent state the Duchy of Massa and Principality of Carrara which came into being in 1473 and ended in 1836 when its territories ended up under Modena) a shadowy and fascinating city with many hidden faces and rich in the evidence that the history of marble has left behind Carrara is definitely worth a visit for so many reasons since we know it very well(Finestre Sull’Arte was born in Carrara): here are the ten places you should not miss during your visit to Carrara.1 The marble quarriesFamous all over the world the marble quarries form a white crown that wreathes the historic center of Carrara and the villages upstream who used Apuan marble for many of Rome’s most splendid monuments from the Arch of Domitian to the Pyramid of Cestius: at the time it was pulled down from the mountains by ox-drawn carts and then shipped to the port of Luni Today there are more than eighty active quarries divided into the three marble basins of Torano (which also includes that of Pescina-Boccanaglia and Colonnata: the quarries are located at high altitude are reached by winding roads (some of which are accessible only to authorized vehicles) always keeping in mind that they are workplaces is then transported downstream by road vehicles and then loaded onto port ships remains on site to be worked by artisans and artists (the list of contemporary and ancient artists who have passed through the quarries is long from Michelangelo to Canova to the present day with names such as Maurizio Cattelan and Jeff Koons who choose Carrara workshops for their marble works) but the marble has many different uses: in construction nestled along the banks of the Carrione stream is one of the most stratified in this part of Tuscany and its urban developments are clearly recognizable and in the picturesque neighborhoods of Caffaggio and Grazzano Between Piazza dell’Accademia and Piazza Alberica it is possible to stroll through the streets of the more orderly Renaissance core where many of the city’s most elegant palaces stand which marked the last major expansion of the historic center One then walks through the narrow medieval alleys that start from Piazza del Duomo and climb toward the large 19th-century Piazza Gramsci (the ancient Piazza d’Armi) one can linger in one of the elegant cafes of Via Roma the main street of the city’s struscio or you can admire the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century palaces of Via Loris Giorgi (such as the very special Palazzo delle Cariatidi) until you reach Theater Square on which stands the neoclassical Teatro degli Animosi or to Piazza dell’Accademia medieval but renovated in the early 20th century and the 16th-century Palazzo del Principe (now the home of the Academy of Fine Arts) But there is much more to discover in one of Tuscany’s most beautiful and seductive historic centers: simply walk its streets Carrara Cathedral is first mentioned in 1099 but perhaps its history is even older It is one of the most spectacular buildings of worship in Tuscany: built entirely of marble it has followed at least three phases of construction one in the 11th century dependent on Parmesan ways one between the 12th and 13th centuries in which the Lucchese direction prevails and one in the 14th century characterized by Pisan architecture the one that determined the style of its Romanesque-Gothic facade with black and white banded marble where the splendid 14th-century rose window stands out On the outside one can admire the 13th-century bell tower and the marvelous portals decorated by sculptors from Parma a veritable stone Bible that continues inside still retains its Romanesque-Gothic appearance and holds important works of art: the painted cross from the second half of the 14th century attributed to Angelo Puccinelli the “Cassanelle,” or the 14th-century sculptural group of the Pisan school depicting the Annunciation the statue of the Madonna of the Assumption attributed to Simone Moschino the Madonna of the Rosary by Giovanni Antonio Cybei the Madonna with Saints group by Andrea Guardi commissioned as a portrait for Andrea Doria but then left in Carrara This is the monumental heart of downtown Carrara The work that led to the opening of Piazza Alberica began in 1574 at the behest of Prince Alberico I Cybo-Malaspina who wanted to transform a meadow formerly used for cattle trading into a modern square flanked by porticoes and palaces a marble pavement divided into ten sectors (six of which are decorated with the wheel and by the elegant palaces that enclose it on all sides former residence of the noble Carrara family of the same name now partly used for private residences and partly a dynamic contemporary art center that organizes year-round exhibitions of major national and international artists On the opposite side stand the 17th-century Palazzo Pisani and another ancient noble residence (it belonged to the Diana family) stands the monument to Maria Beatrice d’Este duchess of Massa and princess of Carrara between 1790 and 1796 and then again between 1814 and 1829: it is the work of the Carrarese sculptor Pietro Fontana Via San Piero is one of the most picturesque alleys in the historic center: it is located near the Teatro degli Animosi and is linked both to the history of anarchy (Carrara is considered the Italian capital of anarchy because here anarchist thought has solid and widespread roots linked to the harsh living conditions of quarrymen and because of the proud and indomitable nature of its inhabitants) and to the street art scene where the most important voices of Italian anarchism are still printed from the most famous ones such as Ozmo to the emerging ones on the initiative of the Circolo dei Baccanali (thanks to its project Adopt an alley) they have made Via San Piero a kind of temple of street art that was born and grew freely and spontaneously and soon became a destination for many fans It is located about three kilometers from the historic center The Marble Museum is the main reference point for learning about the history of the material that has made Carrara famous throughout the world It is the city’s first public museum and has been housed in a building that represents one of the best Italian examples of organic architecture and was built between 1962 and 1965 to a design by Dante Petrucci and Ezio Bienaimé The structure was initially designed to house the National Marble Exhibition then became the headquarters of the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine and finally rediscovered its exhibition vocation and became definitively under the coordination of Enrico Dolci who conceived its museological project entirely dedicated to the history of marble The tour is divided into thematic areas: the visitor will learn about the history of the territory and the Apuan Alps with the help of various geomorphological models and through marble reproductions and furnishings the importance that marble possesses for the territory will be highlighted Two ancient techniques for transporting marble blocks downstream are also shown: the lizza pulled by two pairs of oxen and the Roman cart There is also a section on Roman archaeology and the link between marble and the city of Luni The museum also has more than three hundred large-format specimens of the most prestigious commercial marbles arranged in the Marble Museum’s Marble Library with its display of the Third National Marble Exhibition of 1968 shows how marble can be used as a furnishing element or as an interior and exterior cladding for buildings also worth mentioning are the Museum of Contemporary Art which houses the municipal art collections (mostly sculptures made during the Carrara Biennials) which periodically hosts high-level exhibitions of ancient art A sort of Staglieno in miniature: this is the monumental cemetery of Marcognano which started as a small suburban cemetery and became a large terraced cemetery between 1885 and 1896 as a result of Leandro Caselli’s interventions Its structure is made entirely of Carrara marble which often take on the appearance of temples in a wide variety of styles from classical (such as the Nicoli and Berring-Nicoli chapels) Marcognano abounds with works of art: the most famous is probably the angel that adorns the burial of Mario Pisani and Clotilde Bernabò Corradi but also fascinating are the angel in the Berring-Nicoli chapel who brings his hands to his chest with a distressed air the pensive bronze angel that adorns the Nicoli chapel and the one astride the tomb of Erminia Maggesi Also very intense are the monument to the very young schoolteacher Assuntina Dini with an epigraph by the poet Ceccardo Roccatagliata Ceccardi and the monument to the quarrymen who fell during the tragedy of Mount Bettogli in 1911 Everyone will undoubtedly have heard of Colonnata associating it with its most famous product: lardo the PGI cured meat produced in the marble basins kept in the artisanal workshops that dot this quaint quarrymen’s village Colonnata is the town’s highest upstream hamlet at 532 meters above sea level (it can be reached in about a quarter of an hour from the historic center of Carrara via a convenient road that snakes through the marble quarries affording here and there memorable glimpses and views) and it retains intact its ancient appearance with its sober but marble-decorated buildings the surprising little central square also all paved in marble the church of San Bartolomeo (the 16th-century crucifix inside and the monument to the quarryman created in 1983 by Alberto Sparapani a stop at one of the many larderies to taste the not-to-be-missed Colonnata lard in order to purchase it and have it returned home launched a popular subscription with which the amount needed to bring the work back to the church where it had been missing for centuries was reached It is one of the most valuable works found in the municipality of Carrara A popular seaside resort and a destination for lively summer tourism Marina di Carrara is also the most populous hamlet in the municipality of Carrara famous for its harbor from which marble leaves (one of the world’s main ports for the handling of marble and natural stone but for some time now it has also served as a passenger port but also for its waterfront and the harbor promenade from which it is possible to enjoy a splendid view of the Apuan Alps and marble quarries as well as to stop and watch romantic sunsets over the sea A curiosity: in the nineteenth-century parish church of the Holy Family which stands on the short side of the central Piazza Gino Menconi you can admire four works of seventeenth-century Florentine art that have been here for decades on deposit from the Uffizi: the Madonna of the Rosary attributed to Jacopo Vignali the Rest during the Flight into Egypt attributed to Anton Domenico Gabbiani the Founding Saints of the Order of the Servants of Mary a work attributed to Giovanni Domenico Ferretti and the Saint Filippo Benizzi attributed to Francesco Curradi Wanted in RomeMagazine The Scheherazade megayacht was impounded on Friday night pending a decision by the European Union in relation to its forthcoming package of sanctions against Russia, the government said in a statement Italy's Financial Security Committee (FSC) has proposed that the owner of the boat - who was not identified in the statement - be included in the new EU sanctions which concern "restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity In March the Anti-Corruption Foundation of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny published a video claiming that the Scheherazade can be linked to Putin through crew members that work on board the 140-m luxury vessel work for the Federal Protection Service (FSO) the state agency tasked with protecting and managing the lives of high-ranking Russian state officials an elevator and a swimming pool with a retractable cover that converts to a dance floor which raised questions about the ownership of the Scheherzade in early March In March and April Italy seized superyachts and property from Russian oligarchs linked to Putin as part of EU sanctions in response to Moscow's military invasion of Ukraine Wanted in Rome ™ is member of the Wanted World Wide Ltd network.Click here to find out more about our Network or Follow us on social networks © 2025 / 2026 Wanted World Wide LTD Network SEARCHThe global authority in superyachting TheYachtPhoto140 metre yacht Scheherazade hit with freeze order in Italy 9 May 2022 • by Katia Damborsky Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance has signed an order which prevents 140 metre Scheherazade from leaving Marina di Carrara as part of ongoing economic sanctions against Russia. To continue reading... you need to register... Gain FREE access to industry analysis, interviews with marine industry leaders and all the latest news as it happens. SubscribeSign up to our newslettersSign up to BOAT International email newsletters to get the latest superyacht news Boat International Media Ltd © 2008 - 2025 Content presented under the "BOAT Presents" logo is an advertising feature and Boat International Limited has been paid to include this content Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker the biggest Italian infrastructure fund with around €5bn in assets under management announced its entry into the port business with the acquisition of the Porto di Carrara Spa Group which controls three terminals in Marina di Carrara Multiservice and Transped were sold by Enrico Bogazzi and generate total revenues of €59m ($66m) yearly and handle some 5 million tons of break bulk The investment was made through the third F2i fund assisted by Venice Shipping and Logistics as industrial advisor “F2i has decided to enter the sector of bulk port terminals since this is a vital piece of infrastructure in terms of supplying Italian industrial sectors and a strategic hub for the country’s economy” commented Renato Ravanelli in keeping with its mission to act as an aggregator in strategic sectors for our economy is putting itself forward to create a national champion under Italian control and management which can guarantee neutral access to strategic infrastructure F2i is the largest infrastructure fund operating in Italy and among the leading ones in Europe Its assets under management amount to around €5bn invested in key areas of the Italian economy: airports I agree that many flags do conduct inspections and that ther.. They should be bright yellow so they are visible in the ocea.. Don't have an account? Minister says there is evidence that connects the Scheherazade to senior members of the Russian government The Italian economy minister has signed an order blocking a superyacht allegedly linked to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin the ministry said that Daniele Franco had signed the decree based on evidence that the owner of the Scheherazade which has been undergoing a refit at a shipyard in Tuscany since September has “significant economic and business connections” with “prominent elements of the Russian government and with others subject to EU sanctions” The statement did not name the owner of the vessel but said the ministry had asked the EU to place the individual on to the sanctions list The yacht has been blocked pending the adoption of further restrictive measures was about to leave the shipyard in Marina di Carrara The Scheherazade has been under investigation since March for potential links to sanctioned Russians A report in the New York Times said that it had been moved out of dry dock and into the water on Tuesday The newspaper cited a crew member who said it could leave the port imminently a company that repairs and builds luxury yachts told the Guardian that the vessel was scheduled to set sail by the middle of June said: “Maintenance work is progressing and there are no scheduled departures anytime soon.” The company originally said the €6m refit would be completed in early 2023 The yacht is said to be equipped with a spa Finance police in Marina di Carrara boarded the Scheherazade in early March as EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs kicked in over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine They seized ownership documents from the yacht’s British captain US officials said they were also investigating whether the yacht belonged to Putin Activists working with the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have also claimed Putin is the owner A source at the finance police said the investigation was “very complex” owing to a web of company names that could be concealing the real owner because of all the companies in between,” the source said and asking if it belongs to Putin is like a lottery.” The source would not confirm whether or not police were preparing to seize the vessel An investigation by La Stampa newspaper in March linked the Scheherazade to Eduard Yurievich Khudainatov Credit: Lucas PossiedeTISG and Giorgio Armani host industry for star-studded unveiling of 72 metre superyacht 13 February 2023 • by Sophia Wilson More than 650 distinguished industry guests – including yacht owners, brokers and shareholders – were invited to celebrate the presentation of Admiral 72 by Giorgio Armani at the headquarters of The Italian Sea Group (TISG) last Saturday (11 February). Regala o regalati un abbonamento al Giornale della Vela cartaceo + digitale e a soli 69 euro l’anno hai la rivista a casa e in più la leggi su PC Tempo di regate tra le boe per l’altura ORC italiana che si ritrova a Marina di Carrara per il Campionato Italiano ORC Sono 42 le barche pronte a scattare sulla linea partenza La flotta del Campionato Italiano si presenta di alto livello con una presenza maggiore nel gruppo C (20 iscritti) Scorrendo l’entry list troviamo molti nomi di barche note nell’altura italiana che promettono una battaglia molto serrata nel gruppo A La barca che sarà da monitorare è anche un sempre verde Mylius 14e55 che già in passato ha dimostrato di potere fare il “colpaccio” come al mondiale ORC di Porto Cervo nel 2022 Swan che probabilmente saranno le barche da battere anche nel gruppo B, con gli Swan 42 Katarina Fantaghirò e Rachistar che avranno una regata nella regata con una sfida che prima di tutto sarà in tempo reale quasi come se fosse una sfida di barche monotipo come il Lanmark 43 Skarp che può essere molto pericoloso anche per gli Swan 42 Nel gruppo C la sfida per la vittoria finale potrebbe essere un discorso tra i due Corsa 915 Sugar (del team pluri campione del mondo con l’omonimo 11.98 dell’armatore estone Ott Kikkas) e Farfallina 2 di Davide Noli Attenzione ad escludere dalla contesa gli Italia Yachts 11.98 ELENCO ISCRITTI Il tuo indirizzo email non sarà pubblicato Iscriviti ora alla nostra newsletter gratuita e ricevi ogni settimana le migliori news selezionate dalla redazione del Giornale della Vela E in più ti regaliamo un mese di GdV in digitale su PC accetta la Privacy Policy e clicca sul bottone “iscrivimi” Riceverai un codice per attivare gratuitamente il tuo mese di GdV la community dedicata a tutti gli appassionati di vela e a tutti gli armatori di Classic Boats Emerso dal grande interesse che la rubricaClassic Boat ha registrato e Il panorama relativo le Classic Boat –ovvero le barche di serie ultraventiquenni e varate a partire dal 1967– è un contesto vasto e in continua via d’espansione composto da scafi di ogni foggia e dimensione e Nei primi giorni di maggio inizieranno le operazioni di recupero del relitto del “Bayesian” il maxi yacht Perini naufragato il 19 agosto del 2024 nella rada del porto di Porticello Manca ormai circa 1 anno per vedere in acqua la prima “piccola” del cantiere tedesco Y Yachts specializzato nella costruzione di superyacht custom e semicustom in stile blue water Si chiamerà Y6 e porterà alcune novità interessanti nella gamma del PER COMUNICARE CON LA REDAZIONE02 535 811111 – speciali@panamaeditore.it PER LA PUBBLICITÀSenior account:Guido De Palma:tel Cookie policyPrivacy policy 02 535811 111/200abbonamenti@panamaeditore.it They are already present in postcards of Carrara from the 1950s they are a familiar presence for anyone who has spent their summers or vacations in the city they are an important ecological garrison for the production of oxygen and the absorption of CO2 and they are very healthy trees: they are the pines of Viale Colombo in Marina di Carrara and which constitute one of the most recognizable presences on the Apuan waterfront: from Sarzana to Viareggio there are no other localities that have chosen the domestic pine as the tree to adorn their seaside boulevards this historical presence on the Carrara Riviera is in danger of disappearing forever: as is well known the root systems of pine trees create problems for the asphalt administered by a junta of the 5 Star Movement has therefore thought of solving the problem (for now limited to a sidewalk which use has moreover reconverted into a kind of unrestricted parking lot) with a drastic action quoting from the Municipality’s feasibility study the “felling of existing pine trees and removal of their stump,” the “formation of new asphalt paving,” and the “planting of new plant species.” And also in the feasibility study it is stated that with regard to the planting of new plants the palm tree ’washingtonia robusta’ was chosen.” at the moment the washingtonia robusta also known as the “Mexican palm” (to be clear it is the tall palm usually seen on the shorelines of cities in California or Florida) still turns out to be the essence of choice to replace the pinus pinea trees that currently flank Colombo Avenue The felling started yesterday: the first batch involves the removal of seventeen pines in the first section of the avenue and the City’s idea is to remove all the pines from Colombo Avenue another pine fight after those fought in two neighboring localities (unfortunately with negative outcomes for the trees where octogenarian pines were removed in Piazza Verdi to make way for a highly criticized intervention by Daniel Buren where the pine grove in Piazza Brusacà was razed to make way for another very questionable urban intervention (which replaced twenty pines with six holm oaks) and for this reason they will be replaced with palm trees “are historically present in the territory of Marina di Carrara and will create uniformity with the entire coastline from Viareggio to the border with Liguria.” And the robust washingtonia option the alderman went on to emphasize again in a Facebook post is “a rational choice based on solid historical research.” Of course: no one questions the fact that the roots of the lodgepole pine create problems for the asphalt nor do we question the presence of palm trees decades ago one must ask why such a heartfelt decision by the local population was made with unusual speed by the Carrara junta and especially without the slightest involvement of the inhabitants we wonder instead whether the felling of the pine trees is really the only solution to remedy the problem of the torn sidewalks as a journalist who deals with cultural heritage and landscape for a living cannot help but point out that when the alderman states that “palm trees are historically present in the Marina di Carrara area” to justify the cutting down of seventeen healthy pine trees on the basis that there were also palm trees in our area and that “palm trees will create uniformity on the coastline from Viareggio to the Ligurian border,” there are several issues that do not seem to be taken into consideration but which anyone concerned with art and landscape has a duty to highlight First point: in art history and landscape history there is a concept called "layering," and the current debate is about how to respect the layering of a place Deleting pine trees that have been present in that stretch of the waterfront for almost a century (as indeed evidenced by photos from the 1950s but where it is possible to see already planted even the pines that the municipality is removing in these hours) means deliberately and arbitrarily erasing a piece of the city’s history regardless of what was there before in place of the pines Second point: pines are historically part of the Apuan A stroll through any museum displaying works by artists active between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries may well testify that all the painters who passed through these areas even in times earlier than the planting of the waterfront pines (Nomellini many foreign artists who traveled throughout Italy were fascinated by the pines they encountered in the Tuscan and Latium countryside) connotes the Apuo-versiliese area much more than the palm tree The alderman quoted the Tuscany Region’s landscape plan where it says that the landscape modifications of the 1920s and 1930s included “the construction of the Littorio promenade (4 km long which connects Marina di Carrara with Marina di Massa and which made it possible to shape the nineteenth-century idea ”of the seamless scenic promenade dotted with palm trees," masterfully interpreted by Moses Levy in one of his private collection paintings(Walk under the Palm Trees) from 1932: However no consideration is given to the fact that the palm tree is of recent introduction (while the pine tree has characterized the Tuscan landscape for centuries however much twentieth-century urbanism has preferred it to the palm tree on the waterfronts) as an artist of Tunisian origin and who loved to return to Tunisia as soon as he could was very fond of the palm trees that reminded him of the scenery of his homeland One can then agree with the statement that pine trees would look better in a pine forest but those that the municipality is now cutting down had nevertheless become part of a recognizable piece of landscape Because here comes the third point: plants also contribute to the creation of a community’s sense of belonging (and we are well experiencing this in these hours) And the creation of a sense of belonging is built over decades the community of Carrara finds itself deprived (without having been involved in the discussions at all!) of an important part of its sense of belonging (and this is not to put on the plate terms like “identity” and “memory” that are very complex and elusive and whose treatment requires a bit of in-depth study) fourth point: when it says that the palm trees will create “uniformity,” the administration is actually advocating what art and landscape historians would call "homogenization," and that is something that is usually fought against If the pines on Colombo Avenue represent a unicum then so much the better: the fact that their presence is unmatched on all coastal roads from Liguria to Pisa should be all the more reason to preserve these magnificent plants no one doubts the urgency and usefulness of fixing the road pavement in the avenue affected by the work And the municipality is obviously not doing anything illegal: the replacement of trees with mature specimens “of the same species or of native or otherwise historically naturalized species typical of the places” (as the text of Presidential Decree 31 of Feb states) is allowed by the regulations on landscape authorization And washingtonia robusta is a species that But it is still a recently introduced plant; its appearance on Colombo Avenue would erase the last sixty years of history (at the very least) and it is an essence that is far from the sentiment of citizens the question arises whether other solutions cannot be found with the hope that the municipality may revise its plans The yacht contains a self-playing grand piano that repeats a song titled ‘Vladimir Putin is a Fine Fellow’ News | World The stunning Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara has long been the parking spot of choice for the global elite’s superyachts but there is one vessel that stands out leaving all others in its shade The Scheherazade, said to be worth $700m (£528m), complete with two helipads a spa and a swimming pool that can transform into a dancefloor, is under investigation by Italian authorities for potential links to sanctioned Russians - with speculation mounting it could belong to President Putin himself The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky used an address in Italian Parliament on Tuesday to namecheck the Scheherazade and urged politicians to seize the yacht and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russians “Don’t be a resort for murderers,” he begged The Scheherazade contains gold plated toilets and bathroom fittings, a cryotherapy chamber in the spa and six-deck floors - described as being like two apartment blocks stacked on top of each other On the upper deck, as former deckhands told jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny’s team The tune is said to be from a famous 2014 song titled ‘Vladimir Putin is a Fine Fellow’ It flies under the flag of the Cayman Islands, according to the tracking service Marine Traffic and has been moored in Marina di Carrara since early September after arriving from Montenegro across the Mediterranean But even the superyacht’s British captain Guy Bennett-Pearce’s denials that Putin has anything to do with the luxury vessel one of the most expensive of its kind in the world hasn’t dampened down speculation amongst locals and dock workers Mr Bennett-Pearce told the publication he could not give further details because of a “watertight” non-disclosure agreement but he insisted the owner was not on any sanctions list The team of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny said in a video on its YouTube channel on March 21 that all crew members and many of them are employed by the Federal Protection Service (FSO) the agency responsible for Putin’s personal security the 140-metre long superyacht was made in Germany in 2020 the yacht travelled to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi twice It is known that Putin regularly visits his residence in Sochi Diver describes 'unbearable tension' of searching Bayesian for Hannah Lynch's body British engineer and sailor on sunken Bayesian superyacht under investigation Captain of sunken Bayesian superyacht did not respond to prosecutors' questions If the yacht’s connection to Putin is proven as Putin is currently under sanctions from the European Union over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine The name Scheherazade is a girl’s name of Arabic origin meaning “noble lineage“ Scheherazade - or Sheherazade -is also the name of a legendary Persian queen immortalised as the narrator the One Thousand and One Nights stories that include Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin and the Magic Lamp VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital a well known name in bulk shipping despite being a very low profile man can see no way out for bulk carriers’ crisis and has decided to progressively offload all his fleet The Italian shipowner based in Marina di Carrara today still controls several companies such as Navalmar UK and BSLE but in the past his name was linked also to Bnavi MC Shipping and Dannebrog Rederi with a fleet of some 50 general cargo In the last few years Bogazzi sold his stake in most of the cited companies and now owns only four multipurpose ships (operated trough BSLE shipping company) and two handymax bulk carriers (controlled by the London-based Navalmar UK) he has a negative outlook for the future of shipping “I decided to exit the tanker market in 2012 but looking back at the rates of the recent past I took the wrong decision,” he admits while on the dry bulk side he thinks that “many years” are needed before any sort of recovery will take place “is affected at the same time by tonnage oversupply and a global trade slowdown furthermore the commodity price has dropped and also the oil price decrease has not helped business.” bulk carriers are more and more in direct competition with container ships in his view “These ever bigger container carriers are progressively stealing market share in minor and major bulk commodities and that’s true not only for small units but also for medium-size bulk carriers If you think that steel coils from China to Europe today are more and more frequently shipped in a container,” he points out That’s the reason why the Italian owner is very busy at offloading ships today “How could I invest in buying vessels given the present market condition?” Bogazzi observes to panamax or supramax all the ships are losing money At today’s rates in dry bulk you can neither repay operating and financial costs.” Also the old project of a potential listing of his shipping activities has been cancelled by the Carrara-based owner: “That would be a nonsense today The private equity funds that decided to buy non performing loans of distressed shipping companies are losing money the banks were used to finance shipowners’ investments with up to 90% of asset price and currently the same assets have dropped their value to 10% Bulk carriers are being sold at scrap price and then that’s not exactly the right moment to look at the financial investors I think,” he concludes For now, Scheherazade is stationed outside Apuan port to carry out various production activities for the Italian Sea Group shipyard over the next two weeks It will return to Marina di Carrara once the work is complete Luxurylaunches.com is an award winning premium lifestyle website It features the latest and the best from the world of extravagance and opulence The ship of the NGO SOS Méditerranée brings ashore 126 people rescued in the Mediterranean reached the port of Marina di Carrara before 7 a.m. This landing represents the fifth time the ship has landed in this port highlighting the importance of Carrara as a reception point for people in difficulty in the Mediterranean after being rescued in the waters of the southern Mediterranean will be transferred to the nearby Imm-Carrarafiere exhibition complex to receive assistance and for identification operations before being directed to reception facilities This process is essential to ensure that people have access to medical care and psychological support considering the difficulties faced during the journey The Ocean Viking has already made several landings in Marina di Carrara contributing to an assistance network that is consolidating over time the total number of migrants disembarked in Marina di Carrara rises to 1950 according to information provided by the Municipality This disembarkation is the second this year when the Ocean Viking brought 95 people ashore The situation in the Mediterranean continues to be critical with a growing number of people attempting to reach Europe in search of safety and opportunity Rescue operations are essential to save lives and ensure that migrants' rights are respected Notizie.it is a newspaper registered with the Court of Milan n.68 on 01/03/2018 Impara come descrivere lo scopo dell'immagine (si apre in una nuova scheda) Lascia vuoto se l'immagine è puramente decorativa The ship of the NGO SOS Méditerranée arrives in Marina di Carrara after two rescue operations in the Mediterranean recently completed two rescue operations in the Mediterranean including a woman and ten unaccompanied minors specifically in the Libyan SAR zone and off the coast of Malta The first operation saw the rescue of 59 people from a fiberglass boat while the second brought another 67 people on board with an increase in attempted crossings by migrants seeking safety and opportunity has been designated a safe port for the arrival of the Ocean Viking This marks the sixteenth arrival of a ship with migrants at this port The reception of these people is a hot topic in Italian political debate with divergent opinions on the management of migration flows and humanitarian assistance the local community has often shown solidarity offering support and help to the new arrivals Expected to arrive between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning local authorities and humanitarian organizations are preparing to provide assistance to the migrants It is essential to ensure that these people receive the necessary support including medical and psychological services The Ocean Viking ship is currently between Pantelleria and Tunisia The situation of migrants in the Mediterranean remains a complex and urgent issue requiring a coordinated and humane approach from European nations