Marble. Not merely a stone, but a geological poem. Each vein, a verse etched by time; every nuance, a stanza narrating forgotten epochs, immense pressures, a slow, inexorable evolution. And within this evolution, beauty is found. A beauty Michelangelo knew intimately, he who liberated perfect forms from shapeless stone with his chisel.

It is to this eternal material that Franchi Umberto Marmi, custodian of ancient tradition, dedicates its homage. Not a mere presentation, but an experience. A cohort of architects from Italy's leading studios – Stefano Pujatti of Elastico spa; Domenico Faraco of Peluffo & Partners; Marco Ciarlo of Ciarlo Associati; Simone di Sfriso of TAM Associati; Francesca Moroni and Matteo Arietti of Park Associati; Giulio Rigoni of BIG; Emanuele Montybelier of Arte Sella; Gianni Fiore of Studio Lissoni; Lucia Giusta and Alessia Gregorio of Marco Costanzi Architects – were invited indeed to enter a world of material and light.

Starting the activities Roberta Busnelli, director of IQD, introduced Bernarda and Alberto Franchi, entrepreneurs and guardians of a precious legacy. Then Alessandro Cecchini, director of YACademy, unveiled the master's program in architecture, a bridge between past and future, planned in collaboration with FUM by 2025. Lastly the mining engineer Claudia Chiappino addressed sustainability and responsible attitude, emphasizing the respect due to marble, a precious gift from the earth, and the responsibility to preserve it for future generations.

And then, the journey began. A journey through showrooms, the Galleria Umberto, and the Big One, where each slab is a universe unto itself. Davide Biselli guided the architects, revealing the secrets hidden within each vein. In the Recovery Stone pavilion, Andrea Franchi recounted the company's history, an epic of men and machines, intuition and sweat. Here, marble finds new life through cutting-edge technologies that enhance its beauty.

The experience culminated in the Crestola quarry, a natural amphitheater, with a setting curated by Danaeproject, where marble is displayed in its majesty, sculpted by time and the elements. A play of light and shadow enveloping the guests as music echoed through the air, creating a suspended, magical atmosphere. The day afetr architects entered the heart of the quarries for a guided tour; they touched the living stone, breathing the air thick with history and feeling the pulse of this precious natural material.