Travertine, a naturally formed stone, has a history as rich and varied as the color of finished travertine tile itself.   

When hot springs run through limestone, calcium carbonate from the limestone is dissolved into the water.  As the water temperature changes, carbon dioxide gas is released into the air and the calcium carbonate turns into a crystallized form again.  Any living plant matter that may be present when this occurs (algae, bacteria) will become part of the formation of travertine.  History is encapsulated in this elegant formation over time; when split with the grain of the stone, fossils will be evident.  

(Photo immediately below courtesy hyperbolation of Flickr.com under Creative Commons license.) 

Classic travertine has been forming in nature for thousands of years.   It was first used as a building material in Tivoli, Italy, where it was discovered.  Since it was in great supply and was easily quarried, the Romans used it in many of the buildings, including the Coliseum.  It is a testament to the strength and durability of this stone that some of this structure remains standing today.

Travertine continued to be used throughout the following centuries, which allowed Italy to monopolize the sale of travertine throughout Europe.  Fast forward to the 20th century, and finally Italy had competition from other countries such as Turkey, Mexico, and Germany, to name a few. 

In the United States, one of the most famous tourist sites, Yellowstone National Park, has travertine formations.  The Liberty Cap, pictured below, is a famous one.

 

 Leave it to Mother Nature to form such a beautiful, rich-looking, earthy stone known as travertine.