Carrara, Italy

Capital City

This marble mecca is no picturesque postcard. With a population of just 59,905, Carrara is dominated by the brutal realities of its quarrying industry. The city and surrounding region have long been a hotbed of anarchist sentiment, with around 90% of the local population embracing radical beliefs in the late 1960s. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city has been shuffled between various political entities over the centuries. And the anarchist history casts a lingering shadow - Carrara has remained a continuous 'hotbed' of radicalism in Italy. For those seeking an authentic, gritty slice of Italian life, Carrara may fit the bill, but the constant clash of ideologies and industrial grind make it a poor choice for the faint of heart.