Travertine is a earth based sedimentary rock which is formed when carbonate minerals from solution in the ground and surface waters precipitate out. A similar but much more porous deposit which is formed with ambient temperature water is called tufa. Travertine is very popular for building and tile for flooring and walls but tufa is too soft and porous and is not used.
Travertine is named for the Italian city Tivoli. During ancient Roman times much travertine was mined from the areas around Tivoli. At that time the Romans called the town Tibur and thus the ancient name for this stone was lapis tiburtinus which means stone of tibur. Later the name tiburtinus was corrupted to travertine. Other deposits are now mined including in areas such as Central Europe, Turkey, Mexico, Peru, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Travertine is very popular as a building material and for floor tiles and wall tiles for its strength and decoration. The Romans were very fond of the rock and mined it extensively in Italy. In fact, the largest building constructed primarily of travertine stone in the world is the Colosseum in Rome.
Travertine tiles are used for both paving patios and for building garden paths. Because of this it is sometimes called travertine limestone or travertine marble but this is not true nomenclature. Travertine is neither a limestone or a marble. Travertine is very frequently used in modern architecture as a façade material, flooring, and wall cladding. Although used for travertine flooring the holes and troughs in the stone make it difficult to finish and maintain.
This stone is very pretty and characteristic because of the sedimentary action of the minerals. The carbonate minerals will actually imbed many colors into the layers which gives is a feeling of depth. It is very easy to see why the Roman’s were so impressed with this stone that they built some of their most beautiful structures out of it. Being stone it has stood the test of time and can still be seen very prominently in Rome.
If you want tiles with a historical perspective then try Travertine Tiles. You will be impressed with the look.