Not many of the millions of tourists that every year flock to Tuscany to enjoy everything that this remarkable land has to offer realise how this place is positively weird. It's easy to be overawed by the beauty that surrounds you and not notice the many inconsistencies that surround you. In Versilia, for example, there are several towns where you can find the crest of the Medici family, despite the fact that Lucca was never conquered by Florence and remained independent until the unification of Italy. The story of how this sliver of land carved between the mountains and the sea is fascinating and involves a grabby and well connected Pope, a frustrated superstar artist and the wild goose chase that kept him busy for 2 years. Michelangelo's struggle to open a road from the quarries of Mount Altissimo to the sea was the foundation for the wealth of this particular corner of Tuscany, made of and by marble. Everything around here was built with the back-breaking work of the quarrymen, many of whom lost their limbs and lives trying to extract the white gold of the mountains. If you listen to the whole episode, you will get also plenty of travel tips to get the most of this hidden corner of Tuscany overlooked by way too many tourists. The towns of Pietrasanta and Seravezza are really special places that you won't forget anytime soon. If you liked this episode or have any question related to Tuscany or Italy, don't keep them for yourself! Remember, we're always happy to help you understand this weird land. Just holler and we'll be glad to be of assistance!
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.toscanaoggi.it/Cultura-Societa/Cosi-Leone-X-invento-la-Versilia
https://www.toscanaovunquebella.it/it/seravezza/la-via-dei-marmi-di-michelangelo
https://www.fiorentininelmondo.it/it/home/713-michelangelo-e-lenigma-divino-che-inebria-di-spavento-e-destasi.html
http://renatosacchelli.blogspot.com/2015/12/il-marmo-e-le-cave-di-seravezza.html
https://galateaversilia.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/michelangelo-allorigine-del-forte-marmi-ma-non-solo/
https://ptithotel.com/itinerario-le-vie-del-marmo/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - A Dark Blue Arc (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - The Opening Closing (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Waiting (Instrumental)
Audionautix - Water Wood and Stone
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-a-dark-blue-arc-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-the-opening-closinginstrumentalcreative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commons
https://www.free-stock-music.com/audionautix-water-wood-and-stone.html
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/