Travertine

Travertine is a porous, sedimentary rock that has been prized for its beauty and versatility for thousands of years. First mined by the Romans from Tivoli around 75 BC, this natural stone has been used in some of the most iconic structures in history. Travertine is a type of limestone formed when calcium carbonate precipitates in hot springs. With its wide range of colors and applications, travertine remains a popular choice for both interior and exterior projects.

To learn more about the ASTM tests relevant to travertine, visit our ASTM Testing Page.

Formation and Characteristics

Travertine began forming about 200,000 years ago. Its porous nature allows it to be filled with either cement or resin depending on the finish desired. Or it can remain unfilled. All depends on application. We do NOT advise filling with resin when used as external cladding in GCC region as it changes colour over time. In fact for external cladding in GCC nations it is now popular to just go with raw (sawn), i.e., with no finishing and to keep it unfilled.

Durability and Density

Travertine is available in a range of natural colors, from warm beige and white to deeper hues of silver, brown, red, and orange. The stone can be cut and supplied in two primary ways:

Vein Cut: Reveals the layers of sediment in linear patterns.

Cross Cut: Offers a more cloud-like appearance.

Travertine can be finished in several ways, making it suitable for different design requirements:

Polished: Smooth and shiny for a more refined look.

Honed: Matte finish, often used for floors and walls.

Tumbled: Brushed surface for a more rustic, antique appearance with edges looking chipped.

Common Applications

Travertine’s versatility makes it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, whether filled or unfilled:

Flooring: Commonly used for interior and exterior floors due to its durability and visual appeal.

Wall Cladding: Its natural look makes it a favorite for both interior and exterior wall applications. Very popular with home external cladding in GCC.

Outdoor Paving: Perfect for patios, garden paths, and pool surrounds due to its non-slip properties when tumbled or honed.

Quarries and Origins

Travertine is quarried primarily in Italy, Iran, Turkey & even North Macedonia (ex-FYROM), with each region offering its own unique variations of the stone. Italian travertine, in particular, is renowned for its historical use in architecture.

Travertine Gallery

White Travertine Iran Vein Cut Polished

White Travertine Iran Cross Cut Polished

Navona Travertine Italy

Navona Travertine Italy Raw Cut (Sawn) Vein Cut Un-filled

Turkey Raw (“White”) Travertine, Un-filled

Turkey Raw (“White”) Travertine Tiles, Un-filled

Light Beige Travertine Turkey Vein Cut Un-filled

Light Beige Travertine Turkey Polished (left filled with cement and right un-filled)

Light Beige Travertine Turkey Polished Filled with cement

Turkish Beige Travertine, Honed, Filled with Cement

Turkish Light Beige Travertine Cross Cut

Turkish Beige Travertine Honed Finish, un-filled

Turkish Beige Travertine Raw, Unfilled Sample

Turkish Honed Cement Filled and Epoxy Filled

Turkish Light Beige Travertine Vein Cut 4 Samples. Top Left epoxy/mastic filled honed, Top Right un-filled honed, Bottom Left epoxy/mastic filled polished, Bottom Right resin filled honed

Turkish Light Beige Travertine Vein Cut Honed epoxy/mastic filled

Italian Beige Travertine Classification Summary

Turkish Walnut (Noce) Travertine Vein Cut

Turkish Walnut (Noce) Travertine Honed Cross Cut

Turkish Walnut Travertine Cross Cut Tiles

Turkish Walnut (Noce) Tumbled Tiles

Iran Silver Romano Alabastaro Travertine

Iran Silver Romano Travertine Vein Cut Type A

Iran Silver Romano Travertine Vein Cut Type B

Iran Silver Romano Travertine Vein Cut Type C

Iranian Trav-Onyx Vein Cut

Turkish Silver Titanium Travertine

Turkish Silver Titanium Travertine Zoom In

Turkish Silver Titanium Cross Cut Travertine

Italian Silver Travertine

Italian Silver Romano Travertine

Samples of Italian Silver and Noce Variation Travertines

Italian Noce Cross Cut Travertine

Italian Noce Travertine Vein Cut Slab

Iran Red Travertine Vein Cut Slab

Iran Red Travertine Vein Cut

Yellow Travertine Block

Alabastro Yellow Travertine Iran

Request a Sample

Explore the possibilities of using travertine in your project. Request a Sample or Contact Us to discover the perfect finish and color for your design needs.