Travertine Flooring History

When hot springs water seeps through carbonate minerals sedimentary limestone is formed into what is called travertine. The scarring of this natural stone is made as the mineral and carbon dioxide rich water is permeating the stone and washes it over. Enhancing of the colors and the character of the stone is made by changes in temperature that release the carbon dioxide from the water into air leaving mineral pockets that capture moss, algae and debris as re-crystallization occurs. Full of small cavities the natural rock is porous.
THE ORIGINS OF TRAVERTINE
Italy has the largest deposits of travertine in the world that are found near Tivoli. The original name of Tivoli, Tibur that means ‘’Tibur stone’’ is the translation of the name of the stone. The name of travertine is the result of modification over centuries. The world’s largest supplier remains to this day the area of Tivoli. For the travertine formation, springs nearby Tivoli heated by volcanic activity associated with nearby Mt. Etna, represent the perfect environment. During the rule of Julius Caesar, Marcus Vitruvius Polllio lived approximately from 75 BC to sometime after 15 BC and was the first who recorded the proprieties and characteristics of travertine in detail.

TRAVERTINE CONSTRUCTION IN ANCIENT HISTORY
Throughout history travertine was used in many famous buildings and constructions. Dated back to earliest recorded history travertine is a common building material that is found occurring around lakes, valleys and other natural water sources. From the first Dynasty of Egypt in 3200 BC travertine is used in stone masonry.
The legend says that the Turkish city of Hierapolis, which means “sacred city”, was founded by the god Apollo. Although history provides the information that the city was founded by Eumenes II, king of Pergamum in 197-159 BC and archaeological evidence says that Hierapolis may actually have been established by the Seleucid kings in the fourth century BC. Hot springs and gleaming white travertine surround Pamukkale the area Hierapolis sits in. Travertine being used almost exclusively in ancient construction, today you can still visit a well preserved amphitheater with beautifully decorated stage buildings and about 30rows of seating still intact that was constructed around 200 BC.
Etruscans used this material to build a wall around the town of Perugia in the third century BC, and later for town aqueducts, churches and tombs.
The municipality in Slovakia known as VyšnéRužbachy, famous for the therapeutic waters of its hot springs, is an area settled during the Paleolithic period, this information is provided by early constructions using travertine from a nearby mine where archaeological evidence was found.
To honor the grandiosity of the Roman Empire, Imperator Vespasiano built the largest known building made entirely of travertine and that is the Coliseum in Rome, completed in 80 AD.
A variety of travertine called Château-Landon stone, that bleaches over time to a gleaming white, was used in the construction of the grandiose Basilique du Sacre Coeur in Paris. With a cost of 40 million francs finishing the church took from conceiving in 1870 to 1914. One of the premier tourist destination in Paris is this church because of the Romano-Byzantine triple domed design, magnificent soaring ceilings, and baroque mosaic work.
CONTEMPORARY USE OF TRAVERTINE
Still used as a building material today, even though building methods have changed from early solid-block construction, travertine is represented more often in polished tiles walls and floors, used for facades as opposed to construction.
Getty Center in Los Angeles, California is one modern exception to modern construction practice of travertine. Built from 1.2 millon square feet of travertine imported from Bagni di Tivoli is a really beautiful building designed by the architect Richard Meier. He had chosen a mixture of natural and polished stone elements to create an organic structure that accompanies the natural environment while reflecting historical building concepts.
Surpassing the World Trade Center the 108-story Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, was the tallest building in the world at the time it was built in 1974 with it’s lobby graced by polished granite flooring and soaring travertine walls. UCLA Medical Center is another famous building with travertine walls, designed by architect Welton Becket who used travertine in nearly all his work.
From the earliest man who first hewed blocks of rock using crude tools and brute force travertine was a prized building material from back the until now. The natural beauty of the stone still attracts designers all over the world. Today travertine is available to anyone who is interested in adorning a home or a business with timeless, stylish flooring.