Travertine tiles are a great choice if you are wanting a classical Roman look in your home. 


Travertine stone is a natural sedimentary rock that is formed when carbonic minerals are precipitated out of solution in a natural hot spring pool.  This just means that as the hot water comes up from the surface it brings different minerals with it.  When the water enters the above ground pool it evaporates leaving layers of the minerals on the bottom of the pool.  Eventually these layer are buried under layers of dirt and rock and then they harden into stone.

Travertine tiles turn out many hued and have a deep, rich look due to the many layers of minerals which make up the rock.  The Romans prized travertine as a building stone because it was so beautiful and because it is relatively easy to work with.  This stone was originally quarried near the town currently called Trivoli.  The name of this area used to be Tibur and thus the name of the stone which came from this site was lapis tiburtinus which means stone of Tibur.  Over the years, due to language changes caused by invading armies, the name was corrupted to Travertine which is what we say now.

Most any color scheme can match travertine tiles because of the natural earth tone base.  The basic color is shades of browns and tans but then the addition of minerals can add almost any color under the rainbow.  These tiles give a very natural feel but also a feeling of history because travertine tiles are actually what most people picture in their minds when they think about Roman architecture.  The tiles can be used as wall tiles, floor tiles, and countertops or worktops.  They are also very popular as stepping stones in the garden or yard.  They offer a very elegant addition to anywhere they are utilized.