Natural stone is a delicate material. On its journey from quarries to our bathrooms and table-tops, the exploitation process requires meticulous work. Italian marble, as such, is considered as one of the most luxurious masonry products. Moreover, while it is quarried from many locations around the globe, Italian marble is still the most sought-after. It is forever embedded in history as it was used to create some of the most iconic sculptures. Still, there are practical reasons behind it too – predominantly its purity, but also the heritage and skill of Italian stonemasons, each unparalleled.
The Carrara region in Italy is renowned for its quarries. There is a profound misunderstanding revolving around the marble types quarried here, as different marbles resembling each other are often commercially called Carrara Marble – which is the most common type of Italian marble. To an untrained eye, they look relatively similar, but it is essential to distinguish the subtle differences to choose just the right kind.
Carrara marble is white to greyish with thin, often linear veins. The scarcer Calacatta marble is predominantly milky white, but has much larger, striking veins which create vivid patterns. Another Italian marble type in high demand quarried from the Carrara region is the Statuario marble. Statuario’s veins, varying in colour from grey to gold, are often thin and not very visible.
Italian marble isn’t limited to white and grey tones. A rare red-hued marble is quarried in Sicily, known as the Rosso Diaspro Marble. Additionally, Nero Portoro, a type of black marble striped with golden veins, is also quarried in Italy. Nero Portoro is especially suitable for exterior use. As you already know, no two chunks of marble are the same. Therefore each slab is specific, providing a unique touch to any design you might have in mind.
