Located about two kilometres from the outskirts of Carrara and about a kilometre from the beginning of Colonnata valley, the Colonnata field consists of a vein of white marble, and is one of the most important marble areas of the Luni region, along with the fields of Torano and Miseglia.

Quarrying activity has been documented in the Colonnata territory since the period of Roman domination. Emanuele Repetti writes that the numerous masses of every size scattered on the field, the excavation of which can clearly be traced to ancient times, confirm the conjectures that the Romans had established major manufacturing processes in the area. The fact is confirmed by the large quantity of worked marble (bases, capitals and rough-hewn columns) and by an inscription brought to light by a flood in the mid 19th century.

Today, along the "marble roads", one can admire the enormous dumps (of marble detritus) from the numerous quarries, which can not always be visited due to safety reasons.