Portoro Marble, also known as black and gold marble, is a fine variety of Italian marble from the charming Golf of Poets, in the Ligurian province of La Spezia. It is one of the most beautiful among the polychromatic marbles. This precious Italian stone consists an intense and bright black colour with gold veins running through it that range from intense yellow to honey colour.

The peculiarity of its appearance makes it a unique marble, irreplaceable as an ornamental stone. There is no stone similar, in luxurious sophistication or characteristic, to this black and gold beauty. Portoro is a natural work of art, in front of which it is easy to become enchanted.

Characteristics of black Portoro marble

The geological composition of Portoro is calcareous with a microcrystalline structure. Marine substances are responsible for the dark colour and also the golden veins, which are a product of the organic marine materials oxidising. The microcrystalline structure contributes to the particularity of the Portoro and also renders the stone more compact. The deep and intense black colour of this marble gives the appearance of an almost velvety texture, which is particularly observable when the slabs are polished. These polished slabs look as if gold has been poured directly onto the stone. The veins, streaks, spots and shadows of this black and gold marble are the result of pyrite and ocher-limonite substances.

The uses of Portoro marble

Portoro is commercially considered suitable for many different uses: for artistic application, columns, church and palace interiors, cladding, flooring and furniture tops. The polished finish is preferred as it adds a level of elegance. This black and gold marble, given its unique veins and high cost, is often used in luxury residences, prestigious hotels and affluent villas. Portoro is frequently used as an inlay, as it creates a perfect contrast when combined with a light coloured marble.