Carrara, Italy

Located on the Tyrrenian coast, Carrara is an alternative port gateway to Tuscany and Liguria. Besides the town of Carrara itself which offers shopping, swimming and sandy beaches, many of the main Tuscan and Ligurian tourist attractions can be reached within two hours by coach Including Lucca, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, and Portofino .

Closer by are the Marble Quarries, which date back to Roman times. It is where the marble used by Michelangelo and Donatello came from. Recently, the quarry featured in the James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.