About 80 miles northwest of Florence on the Carrione River is a town called Carrara. Located in the province of Massa-Carrara near Tuscany, Italy, Carrara is famous for the blue-gray marble and white marble quarried there. Carrara Marble is among the most beautiful marble in the world, and has been popular for thousands of years. It was a favorite choice among Roman Emperors, Senators, noblemen, and aristocrats. Trajan's Column and The Pantheon in Rome are made from Carrara Marble. Famous sculptures from the Renaissance, including Michelangelo's David, are carved out of Carrara Marble. Michelangelo loved carving Carrara Marble from Tuscany more than any other kind of stone.

Located about 99 miles off the southeast coast of France, Corsica is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Politically attached to France, Corsica has had close historical ties with Italy. To the south, the Strait of Bonifacio separates Corsica from the Italian island of Sardinia. Corsica is mountainous. Mount Cinto is its highest peak at 8,891 feet. Corsica is renowned around the world for its marble and granite.