The Tuscan region is undoubtedly one of the most important on a cultural level due to the presence of several renowned artists. Less well known but undoubtedly very exquisite is its gastronomy thanks to the typical products and one of those is the Lardo di Colonnata.
This is the reason why Tuscany food tours are becoming more and more popular among tourists.
History of Lardo di Colonnata
Surely you have heard of the Lardo, if you have not, here I will tell you what it is and when it was born.
The Lardo was born in Colonnata, a town located in Carrara. This charcuterie was born in the mid 1800s as a dish for the “cavatori” workers, they were so called because they extracted the famous white Carrara marble. They began to prepare this charcuterie that is made from pork fat and placed it to ripen together with some spices in the Carrara marble piles.
In these areas, it was very common to use marble basins to better preserve food and unlike others, spices such as cloves, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg and rosemary were placed next to it.
The story goes that this famous charcuterie began to spread from the 1980s, when some young people from Colonnata began to sell it in the market in the town square. This is how it became famous among the inhabitants of the Tuscan region and today throughout the world. If you are in the region where the famous Michelangelo was born, do not forget to ask for Tuscany Culinary Tours and I assure you that you will not regret it.
Carrara land of Michelangelo’s marble
Carrara has been known worldwide for having one of the most appreciated marbles, characterized by its whiteness with bluish-gray tones. From Roman emperors to contemporary artists they have known where to go where it came to choosing the best marble. It was certainly Carrara in Tuscany. This marble has been used for the construction of villas, columns and sculptures. Carrara’s marble is also famous for being the favorite of Michelangelo with his sculptures, so he used this material for many of his works such as David or piety.
The famous Michelangelo Buonarroti, always had a very close relationship with the city that provided him the main material for his works. The first time he arrived in the city was in 1497 to procure marble for the realization of his work “Pietà”, commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Bilhères-Lagraulas. After this first experience, Michelangelo returned to Carrara more times to procure himself more marble for his great works. Thanks to written testimonies, we know that Michelangelo returned for the second time in 1503 for the realization of the statues of the apostles of the Duomo of Firenze and then in 1505 for the realization of the funeral monument of Pope Giulio II. The last time Michelangelo returned to Carrara was in 1521 to choose the marble for one of his works commissioned by the Medici family.
Michelangelo’s relationship with the city of Carrara lasted for almost 30 years, it was a very close relationship considering both needs and until nowadays the works would not be the same if they had been made with another material or by another artist.
