In June of this year, CarraraMarmotec took place in the historic stoneworking center of Carrara, Italy, marking the 24th year that the show has taken place in that locale. As an international trade magazine for the stone industry, we have been attending this event since its inception, and during Stone World's formative years, the region has offered a wealth of information for our staff. In fact, it is still a valuable resource for information today.
My first trip to Carrara took place around seven years ago, although it wasn't for the trade fair. I had the privilege of participating in a press tour of the area's renowned white marble quarries and stoneworking operations. At the time, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the stone industry in Carrara -- as I still am today. The mountains of the Apuan Alps are literally covered with quarries, and their rounded white peaks make them appear snow capped, even though this look was actually brought about by centuries of stone quarrying.