Throughout history, marble has been a highly sought-after material for art and architecture. Due to its signature beauty, versatility, and luster, marble has been admired and beloved by artists, designers, and architects for centuries. Across the world, marble has found a place of honor among the creative set.
Although you can find marble in many different countries, perhaps no other nation is more associated with marble than Italy. Throughout the nation’s many regions, especially in the Apuan Alps in north-central Italy, luxurious marble has been extracted from quarries there for generations and continues to be extracted today.
At Suburban Marble & Granite, we don’t just feature a vast selection of bathroom floor tiles in our newly-renovated Bucks County showroom. We understand that there’s nothing quite like adding a taste of the Old World to your home with exquisite marble countertops. It’s why we’re currently featuring marble slabs from our Tuscan collection. Let’s take a look at what makes authentic Italian marble such a special, unique, and in-demand material across the globe.
Ciao, Tuscany!
It’s important to note that not all types of Italian marble are the same. While they may look similar to the untrained eye, there are some significant differences. Each type offers unique features that help them give your home a unique look that other materials cannot achieve. There are three primary types of white Italian marble varieties: Carrara, Calacatta, and Statuario.
Carrara
Carrara marble has a rich history as one of the most popular and in-demand varieties of Italian marble dating back to the Roman Empire. This type is one of the most common types of Italian marble, featuring a grayish-white background and light-gray veining that tends to be refined and linear. Patterns are generally soft and feathery, and the stone can even lean toward a blue-gray hue. Carrara marble has been utilized in various notable sculptures and historic global landmarks throughout its storied history.
Calacatta
A favorite of the famed sculptor and artist Michelangelo, Calacatta marble has its origins dating back to Roman times as well. Calacatta marble has a distinct bright white “field,” or background, and has more color variations when compared to Carrara marble. It features bold and thick veining that can range from beige to brown and even gold.
Statuario
This variety of marble is one of the rarest and most luxurious options available. It’s also one of the most sought-after and precious marbles found in all of Italy. Statuario has distinct veining patterns that can range from brown to gold and feature a bright white field, but with fewer color variations than Calacatta.
What Determines the Color and Purity of Marble? 
The makeup of the area surrounding the limestone deposits where marble naturally forms will play a key role in its overall color. When marble first forms, it possesses a light color and minimal impurities. Over the hundreds of years it takes the marble to form, it mixes with other minerals in the limestone to ultimately determine its shade. For instance, through heat and pressure, microcrystals from minerals like hematite, chlorite, and pyrite can add red, green, or gray hues to the stone.
In-Demand Luxury
While Italian marble is a highly-coveted stone here in the U.S., demand for high-quality Italian marble is high worldwide. In fact, the export value of this stone regularly exceeds $3 billion each year. Countries like France, Switzerland, Germany, and the U.K. also import their fair share of Italian marble. In regions like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, its popularity is steadily growing.
When it comes time to update your kitchen countertops or bathroom fixtures, you want the best material money can buy. With our luxurious Tuscany collection of authentic Italian marble, you can add some Old World flair and luxury to your home this season. Our team can help you design the perfect countertops and have them seamlessly fit into the layout of your space.
If you want to add a bit of classic Italian luxury to your home during this coming remodel, Suburban Marble & Granite is here to help! Please stop by our newly-renovated showroom to see for yourself how Italian marble can add beauty and allure to any space in your home.
For more information on Italian marble or to browse kitchen tiles for your Montgomery County home, call us today.