Black Portoro Marble italian

Black Portoro Marble italian. Portoro black is a very valuable variety of Italian marble, coming from the beautiful Golfo dei Poeti…

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Portoro black (also called the black gold of Portovenere), is a very valuable variety of Italian marble, coming from the beautiful Golfo dei Poeti, in the Ligurian province of La Spezia. It is one of the most beautiful marbles among the so-called polychrome marbles (in italian).

One of the most valuable Italian marbles in the world

Nero Portoro is a very fine, expensive and sought-after Italian marble. As already written above, its place of extraction is the province of La Spezia (in Liguria) and, in particular, the famous Golfo dei Poeti.

The Gulf composes of towns such as Lerici, Portovenere, Manarola, Tellaro, and the famous Island of Palmaria (just to name a few).

Originally the black Portoro was called “yellow and black mixture”, subsequently it took its name from the place where it was extracted, i.e. “Portovenere marble”.

Nero Portoro is considered a marble, even though it is actually a limestone with a microcrystalline structure. Portoro is a pure, exquisite, black limestone, characterized by yellow-reddish dolomitization veins.

The black color is due to the carbonaceous particles, while the color of the veins is due to the small quantity of ochraceous-limonitic iron and the small pyrite crystals.

Nero portoro is a marble extracted mainly in the Portovenere area. So precious as black marble that it is sought after by architects and designers all over the world. Click on the photo above to enlarge it and see the particularities of the golden veins.

Regal and elegant

Due to its regal and elegant appearance (which can be seen after it has been polished), Nero Portoro is certainly one of the most loved and requested Italian marbles in contemporary interior design projects all over the world.

It is particularly suitable for the creation of decorative elements, objects, sculptures, floors and, naturally, coverings.

The main characteristic of Portoro is the black background on which elegant and decorative yellow, orange or white golden veins emerge.

The difference in the color of the veins naturally depends on the quality of the Portoro marble, taking into consideration that the more golden and yellow or orange they are, the more valuable it is. Just like in the photo below.

Nero Portoro: Polychrome marble

Given that polychrome marbles are those with the most colours, nero portoro is considered one of the most beautiful polychrome marbles among those existing. The fact that it is so sought after (and rare), also makes it the most expensive black marble in the world.

On polychrome marbles,we suggest you read the beautiful study “The colors of marble: polychrome stones in Liguria between the 16th and 18th centuries” by Roberto Santamaria (in Italian), which you can find on the website of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, Archive of the State of Genoa.

In the photo above, you can admire a beautiful black portoro marble table inside the Torre capitolare of Portovenere. Click on the photo to see the details of the table.

200 million years old

It seems that Nero Portoro is a marble almost 200 million years old (as reported on the Marmomac website) and since its availability is limited, it is very valuable (in fact it is placed in third place in the marble category).

The black color is given by a large amount of organic substance. The golden streaks, however, are due to a partial dolomitization process which destroyed the organic substance by oxidizing it.

Nero Portoro: characteristics

The black background, in addition to the golden veins ranging from pure yellow to honey, is one of the fundamental characteristics of Portoro marble. A black color so intense and brilliant that anyone who sees a freshly polished sheet of portoro black will be left speechless and literally captivated.

Be Marmi (a company from Carrara, Italy) has slabs and blocks of black Portoro marble with these characteristics in stock. If you are interested in purchasing this regal black marble, you will find all the contacts at the end of the article.

There is the broad spot Portoro (the most famous and prized) and the fine spot Portoro.

Both varieties of Portoro (fine spot and broad spot) increase in value where the yellow veins prevail over the white, although the varieties with yellow and white spots are, at times, much more resistant.

Nero Portoro: beautiful and elegant marble

Portoro is a true work of natural art, which it is impossible not to be enchanted by. The first time one sees this marble, one is left speechless because it is so beautiful.

Precisely because it is a marble of great beauty, Portoro has been used for centuries in all high-level workmanships and in ultra-luxury coverings. In fact, we find it in the most beautiful historic Italian buildings.

Its originality and elegance make it one of the best stones suitable for fine coverings.

Portoro black is widely used in inlays, for its contrast created with the combination of lighter marbles such as: white Carrara marble, arabesque from Vagli, pink from Norway, yellow from Siena, pearl from Sicily and many more.

We can certainly say that Portoro black marble is something unique. A true jewel, Made in Italy. Something that only Italy can be proud to say has.

Article sources

“Nero Portoro Marmo” is an article created and assembled from multiple sources, such as:

Info was provided by BEMarmi
Other info taken from Sara Odino’s degree thesis (academic year 2004/2005) – University of Parma. Faculty of Science MM. FF. NN. Degree Course in Geological Sciences. October 26, 2005
Finally, some information was also taken from the Wikipedia.org/wiki/Portoro page (in italian).

Would you like to purchase Portoro black marble?

Contact Be Marmi di Carrara immediately:

Physical address: Via Anderlino, 3 – 54033 Carrara (MS) Tuscany Italy
Sales office: (+39)0585 872054
Antonio Bernardini mobile: (+39)339 7336685
Email: info@bemarmi.com

Black Portoro Marble italian

Black Portoro Marble italian