Text and photos by Jennifer Adams

Italy is a country rich in culture and magnificent stone architecture. And where better to observe both ancient and modern buildings than in Rome - the nation's capital. From the ruins of the “ancient city” to more recent contemporary designs, the use of natural stone is prominent throughout the city. But even more interesting than the stone structures and applications within Rome is the surrounding region of Latium, where the majority of the city's building material was quarried.

Latium - also referred to as Lazio - is one of 20 regions in Italy; and while agriculture forms its backbone, stone quarrying and processing is also a significant part of daily life. In particular, the region is a large source of travertine and basalt as well as Peperino, Perlato and Tufa Stone. Many of the quarrying sites are among lush green pastures and groves of olive trees, making for a picturesque drive through the countryside.

The region is broken down into several provinces, and Rome remains its primary commercial, service and industrial center. With quarries scattered throughout Latium, each province specializes in its own variety of stone.

Tivoli

In Tivoli, travertine has been quarried for centuries. In fact, many quarrying sites in operation today date back to the days of the Romans. Several quarries visited by Stone World showed evidence of chiseling, which was the method the Romans used to remove travertine blocks. They would then place the blocks on a boat and ship them down a nearby river to Rome.

The use of travertine in Rome is seen in many of the city's historic structures. This includes the exterior of the Colosseum as well as the ancient ruins and many historic churches. Additionally, the material was employed as paving throughout the city.

Today, travertine is being applied for modern applications such as the Ara Pacis Museum, which was designed by renowned U.S. architect Richard Meier. The museum, which sits along the Tiber River on the western edge of the Piazza Augusto Imperatore, was scheduled to open in April 2006. For the exterior, Meier combined rough-cut pieces of Roman travertine with glass - creating a very contemporary look.

Many stone quarriers and fabricators in Tivoli are also targeting the international market. In particular, several companies that Stone World had the opportunity to visit were focusing their efforts on the U.S. They believe the neutral and consistent tones in travertine - especially the premium Roman Classic product - meets the tastes of U.S. consumers.

Viterbo

Another providence known for its stone quarries within the Latium region is Viterbo. This area is also famous for being the site of the Roman baths centuries ago. Today, Viterbo is still a popular destination for those wishing to pamper themselves, as it is home to many exclusive spas. The scent of sulphur can actually be smelled in the air.

This providence was also the location of volcanic activity years ago. As a result, many of the quarries in this area were formed by lava flow. Among the stone varieties found in Viterbo are basalt, Peperino and Tufa Stone.

According to quarriers of basalt, the lava came very rapidly and did not give the stone any time to take in air. For this reason, basalt is very strong and compact. It is an extremely durable material and possesses a high natural slip resistance. With modern technology, basalt can be used for almost any application - both interior and exterior. It is available in slabs as well as tiles and cut-to-size pieces.

Peperino is another volcanic stone that is quarried in Viterbo. The name of the material, which is speckled-gray in color, actually refers to “salt and pepper.” Several varieties of the stone are available.

In the Tuscany region, the use of Peperino dates back centuries. It has been employed for the building of important edifices, palaces, strongholds and city walls. It was during the Middle Ages that Peperino emerged in history and in architecture as an outstanding building stone - becoming the typical feature of the medieval “City of the Popes” and of the entire medieval quarter.

And lastly, Tufa Stone is also tied to the providence of Viterbo. This material was formed due to sedimentation and lava action in the quarry. While Tufa Stone is slightly softer than other basalts, it does become stronger and more compact at deeper layers of the quarry.

The material is extracted in smaller pieces that resemble bricks, and its color varies from a shade of red to chocolate brown. According to quarriers, the stone's porosity helps it withstand freeze/thaw cycles because there is room for expansion.

Tufa Stone has remained popular for building and landscape designs throughout the decades. Additionally, skilled artisans handcraft the material into detailed ornamental work.

Frosinone

The providence of Frosinone is home to a very unique stone called Perlato Coreno - a material noted for its distinctive characteristics, including fossils of fish, shells, algae and sea plants on its surface. And although the stone has existed for centuries, it is only in the last 50 years or so that commercial quarrying began.

Two of the main towns in Frosinone are Coreno Ausonio and Ausonia. And although these towns have a combined population of less than 5,000, they are very important to the Perlato stone industry. While the quarrying sites are located in Coreno Ausonio, many of the stone-processing plants are in Ausonia.

In 1991, a group of local entrepreneurs and municipalities in the Perlato region joined together to form “Consorzio per la valorizzazione del Perlato Coreno.” The Consortium, as it is called, has grown to include more than 100 firms with about 1,300 employees. It works together on issues related to the quarrying and processing of Perlato Stone. With a unified front, the Consortium believes that it can present itself as a strong force to the international market.

Sidebar: Touring the Latium Region of Italy

Several months ago, a select group of North American architects was invited to participate in a tour of the Latium stone region of Italy. The tour was sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission, and offered architects the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Credits from the American Institute of Architects, upon completing the course. Stone World was also invited to join the group and learn more about the many companies that quarry and process the stones of this region.

Leading the architects on this incredible adventure was Vincent Marazita of Marazita & Associates of Canoga Park, CA. Marazita, who works closely with the Italian Trade Commission on many educational programs, was a source of knowledge for the participants as they visited the various stone-processing plants and quarries.

The tour began in Viterbo, where materials such as basalt, Peperino and Tufa Stone are quarried and processed. The group next moved on to Tivoli, where the architects viewed some of the largest travertine quarries in Italy. And before landing at its final destination in Rome, the group visited some of the quarries and fabrication facilities in Frosinone, which is home to the unique stone, Perlato Coreno.

At each stop, the architects learned about stone characteristics, quarrying and fabricating techniques, various finishes and stoneworking machinery. They were also educated on how to write efficient specifications for stone and how to work directly with stone producers to get the material they desire.

In Frosinone, the architects were honored by the mayors of two important stoneworking towns - Coreno Ausonio and Ausonia. While the Perlato Stone quarries are located in Coreno Ausonio, the material is cut at facilities in Ausonia. At the end of the visit to the Perlato region, a press conference was held to gain insight into the architects' thoughts of what they had seen.

“I was very impressed with the state-of-the-art technology I have seen,” said Diana Brenner, AIA, of Brenner Design in Indianapolis, IN. “It reflects the investments the companies are willing to make. I am looking forward to taking home what I have learned and use it.”

Mark Graham, AIA, of WLC Architects Inc. expressed similar sentiments. “It was a great learning experience for me - not only learning about the stones out there, but how to specify these stones,” he said. “I will definitely take this back with me and share this information.”

The tour concluded with two days in Rome, where the architects observed how the raw materials they learned about were applied to architectural applications - both in years past and the present. The group received a guided tour of the “ancient city,” including the Ruins and the Roman Colosseum as well as a visit to the modern-day Auditorium Parco della Musica.