Are you looking for the best Italian white marble? In this article, we are going to cover these questions below:
✅ Which is the best Italian white marble?
✅ Is Italian marble expensive?
✅ What makes Italian white marble so unique?
✅ What are the famous Italian marble types?
✅ What are the famous buildings & monuments made with Italian marble?
✅ How can Spacestone help with your project?
Introduction to marble
Marble is one of the most attractive natural stones worldwide. It is quarried in many countries and used in countless projects such as monuments, buildings, architectural structures, or artistic sculptures. Yet there is a particular country that is known for its marble collections; Italy. Italy is one of the most significant marble producing countries, and mostly it is famous for its white marble selections.
When we go back in time, we witness Italy producing marbles for centuries since Roman times, and its marble is second to none in the world. Italian white marble is so pure and beautiful that many artists, countless architects, and designers have used it on famous sculptures, monuments, residential and commercial buildings, and projects. One of the most famous sculptures made from Italian white marble is Michelangelo’s David. In addition to this, there are many buildings made of Italian marble around the world, for example, Marble Arch (London), Peace Monument (USA), Oslo Opera House (Norway), etc.
Of course, there are many reasons why Italian white marble has been almost peerless in the world. Apart from being used in many different projects, Italian marbles are unique so that every block has its own pattern, color, and textures. We must mention that Italians have been extremely successful in stone processing and production. Thus, they have always had the edge in new manufacturing technologies, innovation, and designing.
What is Carrara region famous for?
Italia’s Carrara region is famous for its white marble quarries. Quarries in Carrara city are known for the volume of marble production so that Carrara quarries have produced more marble than any other place in the world. The demand for Italia’s white marble selections is exceptionally high across the globe. No surprise that Italy exports its natural stones to around 140 countries, the US being the buyer of most stones.
There are many marble types quarried in Italy, but we will discuss the most famous ones here. Let’s start with the most popular one (Italian white marble); Carrara Marble. Carrara marble is quarried in Carrara city. Carrara is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and it can be considered as the capital city of Marble in the world. Carrara marble is the most quarried stone worldwide. Of course, Carrara is not the only name that it is known for. There are other names, too, such as Bianco Carrara, Carrara White C, Bianco di Carrara Marble or Carrara White Marble. Regardless of what it is called, Carrara Marble is one of the most classic and widely used white Italian marbles of all time.
Italy’s bestseller marble
As Italy’s bestseller marble type, Carrara marble has an off-white, blue/grey background with soft feathery and linear veins generally in light grey. Its quality is, in general, based on how white the rock looks and how uniform the veins are. So the whiter the stone and the more uniform the veins, the better.
The clean and feathery look of Carrara marble has made it so loved and highly sought-after natural stone. Its standards are named C, CD, and D (high, medium, and low). Carrara marble tiles and slabs are abundantly available, so it is relatively easy to reach the stones. The price is more affordable than other white marbles from Italy. In other words, it is one of the best options for someone who seeks cost efficiency for limited budgeted projects. Being a universally recognized natural stone, you can often find Carrara marble tiles and slabs in the markets. Although it is a durable stone, it is not recommended that the stone be used for external areas. Instead, the stone can be best used for indoor applications such as flooring, countertops, wall panels, or bathroom vanities.
Italy’s second most popular marble
The second most popular Italian white marble is Calacatta Marble, sometimes called Calcutta. It is quarried in the same region as Carrara Marble. This luxurious and prestigious marble is rarer than Carrara marble, and it has more variations in color. The stone features a pure, crisp white background with dramatic, bold grey veins highlighted with gold and earthy brown color.
The stone has its own variations, Calacatta Oro being the common one with gold hues in grey veining. Since Calacatta marble is rarer and not always readily available in the market, it is pricier. Its charming patterns of veining make this stone unique in every block, and it gives an elegant look to the projects it is used in. This beautiful marble is ideal for outdoor areas. It is best if Calacatta marble is used in a big slab format to make a statement in projects; however, the stone can also be used in luxury kitchens and bathrooms as countertops and backsplashes or flooring.
Rarest Italian white marble
The third stone is the rarest and the most sought after Italian white marble. Statuario marble, also called Statuary marble, is a symbol of exclusivity and prestige. This first-class marble is quarried in the same region as Carrara marble but in a very limited quarry. As it is high on demand and hard to find, it is often the most expensive amongst all the white marbles from Carrara city.
This truly premium marble has the whitest background with impressive grey veinings in bold patterns so that it gets instantly recognizable when used on expensive projects. That is why it is no surprise that architects and designers consider using this fascinating marble in the most sophisticated designs. It is best if Statuario Marble is used as bookmatched large slabs to get the full influence of dramatic and symmetrical veins in the grand projects. You can also use this stone for reception counters, countertops, backsplashes, wall panels, and luxurious indoor applications rather than external areas and applications.
Arabescato Marble – top things you need to know
Last but not least, the fourth stone in our list is another elegant white marble; Arabescato Marble. The stone is extracted in Tuscany, Italy, and characterized by its prominent veining patterns. Arabescato marble has two popular variations: Arabescato Crochia and Arabescato Vagli. Arabescato Corchia has a pure white background with a darker blue, grey veining in an oval-shaped patterning. In contrast, Arabescato Vagli has a creamier base with lighter grey veining, making the stone look smoother. Arabescato tiles and slabs are generally held in stock, and it is relatively easier to find, meaning it can be reasonably affordable. This great marble can be used in high-end bathrooms and kitchens, countertops, floors, and walls.
As you can see, there are many reasons why Italian white marble has been exceptionally popular and sought after by artists, architects, and designers for centuries. Not just because of their elegant look but also because of their durability and availability. When you want to make a statement or influence people, Italian white Marble can be one of the best options to go for.
