Why is Carrara Marble the most popular?
Carrara Marble is used for making a statement. Sending a message of luxury and flair, this marble is also one of the economical marble types. Carrara marble is by far the most affordable in the Marble industry. Having a rich history and being used for generations, this marble has intrinsic qualities that have enabled the creation of great works of art, historical monuments, and significant structures. Michelangelo, the famous Italian sculptor, has been said to have gone to the Carrara quarries to choose the best Marble to sculpt with. Many sculptures, including Michelangelo’s David and Pietà, as well as many other works of art by the equally famous Bernini, Canova, and Donatello, were made possible by the existence of Carrara marble.
Notable structures and monuments
Traditionally been regarded as a regal stone, Carrara marble was utilized in some of Ancient Rome’s most impressive structures:
- The Rape of Proserpina by Bernini is a sculpture, which stands over 7.5 feet tall. Carved from Carrara marble, it was once utilized by ancient Roman architects and, more recently, by Mannerist and Renaissance painters. Bernini “prided himself on being able to give marble the look of flesh” because of the softness of this high-quality marble.
- The Pantheon temple in Rome shines with exquisite, white marble from Italy’s town of Carrara. It is the best-preserved ancient Roman structure, having been completed in c. Year: 125 CE
- Trajan’s Column is a triumphal column in Rome, Italy, that commemorates the victory of Roman emperor Trajan over the Dacians during the Dacian Wars. The structure is roughly 30 meters tall, with a pedestal that is 35 meters tall. The shaft is constructed of 20 massive Carrara marble drums, each weighing roughly 32 tonnes and measuring 3.7 meters in diameter.
- The Column of Marcus Aurelius, a Roman victory column, was built in honor of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and modeled on Trajan’s Column.
Where does Carrara Marble come from and what is its history?
Carrara marble is mined in Carrara, in the province of Massa, and Carrara, in the Lunigiana, in modern-day Tuscany, Italy. This marble comes from a large mountain range. Other marbles, such as Calacatta, Statuario, and others, are mined in this mountain area. Each one is a white marble with a natural geological formation.
The Carrara marble quarries have been utilized for the construction of necropolis since ancient times, as evidenced by archaeologists’ discovery of marble fragments. The Carrara marble quarries had been in use since the Iron Age, but it was not until the Roman Empire that mining officially began. Regarded as a regal stone, the Malaspina and Cybo families founded the Office of Marble in 1564 to regulate the marble mining industry. Carrara marble was used to build the Ducal Palace of Massa and the Basilica of Massa, which served as a showcase for the exquisite stone.
The Romans used Carrara marble to construct religious buildings, monuments, and sculptures to please their gods and deities. Even monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have this exquisite stone in their places of worship. Carrara marble has been used to decorate the floors of many palaces, castles, and forts. It has also been utilized to cover significant government structures and offices.
Is Carrara Marble good for kitchen countertops?
Marble is a durable and heat-resistant stone. Because of its strength and beauty, marble has been used as a building material for millennia. It can withstand a good amount of “countertop traffic”. Despite being porous, marble will stay naturally cool, making it ideal for rolling out bread, pastries, and even ice cream.
What are the different types of Carrara Marble?
Because no two slabs of marble are identical, it’s safe to assume that each kind has its subtypes, each of which is quarried in only one or two locations. To put it another way, the fundamental trait that distinguishes Carrara marble is not its color, but its provenance and exceptional quality.
Bianco Carrara Marble, Statuario Marble, Venato Marble, Arabescato Marble, Calacatta Marble, Bardiglio Marble, and Cipollino Zebrino marble are some of the different varieties of Carrara marble.
There are three main types of Carrara Marble:
- Carrara Extra, also known as Marmo Bianco Carrara
- Carrara Gioia, also known as Marmo Venato
- Carrara C
Is Carrara Marble Versatile?
Given marble’s versatility in terms of its ability to work with a wide range of design styles, Carrara marble fits anywhere and everywhere. The Carrara Marble is mainly used for stairs, but it‘s also suitable for kitchen tops and working surfaces and is used in tombstone art. Carrara marble is frequently used in the kitchen for countertops and backsplashes, generally in matching pairs. It is also used on the floors of hallways and corridors, bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, bathroom, shower areas.
Here at Avant stone, we have three stunning options to choose from. Here are some recommended color combinations:
- With pastel colors like soft green or peach, Carrara Extra will blend in for a balance of color.
- With colors like warm brown or black, Carrara Gioia will add a splash of color to a monochromatic kitchen.
- With undertones of grey or white, Carrara C will match the silvery aesthetic of the kitchen.
- With light color flooring, Carrara Extra will brighten up the room and provide a silvery tinge in the atmosphere. If the flooring is dark, Carrara C will also brighten up the kitchen but the veining in the marble will provide a subtle and elegant match.
Carrara Marble is an exquisite stone and the architecture and sculptures of the last two thousand years bear witness to its ageless beauty and grandeur.